Psalm 35:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!

NIV: May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.

NASB: May those be ashamed and altogether humiliated who rejoice at my distress; May those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and dishonor.

CSB: Let those who rejoice at my misfortune be disgraced and humiliated; let those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and reproach.

NLT: May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced. May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor.

KJV: Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

NKJV: Let them be ashamed and brought to mutual confusion Who rejoice at my hurt; Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor Who exalt themselves against me.

Again, David asks the Lord to put his enemies to shame (Psalm 35:4) and completely disappoint them. They want David to be killed and disgraced (Psalm 35:11–16). David longs to be vindicated so clearly that his enemies will be humiliated for what they have attempted to do. They have been hoping for David's reputation to be shattered and his life to end; David prays these foes will be disappointed and unable to celebrate his downfall.

This is one of the "imprecatory psalms," or "imprecatory prayers," which call for God's active, immediate judgment on wicked people. While it's tempting to claim that David is merely looking forward to God's eternal judgment, or merely stating God's distaste for sin, there's no question his songs are active requests that God act against his enemies. It should also be noted that Paul considered false preaching about salvation so offensive that he announced: "If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8, 9).

In David's spiritual context, and his era, use of imprecatory prayer made sense. God was using the earthly nation of Israel as His means to bring about salvation. But for Christians who are saved by grace, this is not an approach we are meant to take. Now that Christ's sacrifice is accomplished, we should not pray for judgment on the wicked, but pray for their salvation (Matthew 5:44–48; Luke 6:27–38). Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12:17–21), and He will execute judgment in due time (John 3:36).

Psalm 35:19–28 is the last of three phases of this psalm, each expressing variations of the same basic themes. David pleads with the Lord for vindication. He prays for deliverance from his enemies, asking God to put them to shame. The psalm concludes with a call for those who support David to rejoice, and to worship God. David promises to constantly praise and honor the Lord.

This is one of the "imprecatory psalms," which call on God to immediately judge or destroy His enemies. David echoes the same ideas in three phases. Each segment includes a plea for rescue, a request for God to conquer David's foes, and a promise to praise the Lord. David makes a point of noting that his enemies have no good reason for their hatred, since he was kind to them. With faith, David looks ahead, trusting he will have the opportunity to worship the Lord for His rescue and vindication.

David pleads with the Lord to destroy his enemies and vindicate him. As such, Psalm 35 is labeled an "imprecatory psalm." Other examples include psalms 5, 69, 109, and 140. This song might have been written when King Saul was seeking David's life (1 Samuel 19:1–2), or when Absalom was spreading rebellion in Israel (2 Samuel 15:13–14). David' notes three basic ideas in this psalm: vindication, defeat of enemies, and praise of God. Each is repeated in a series of three variations.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.