Psalms 35 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
1Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
PSALM 35
Psa 35:1-28. The Psalmist invokes God's aid, contrasting the hypocrisy, cunning, and malice of his enemies with his integrity and generosity. The imprecations of the first part including a brief notice of their conduct, the fuller exposition of their hypocrisy and malice in the second, and the earnest prayer for deliverance from their scornful triumph in the last, are each closed (Psa 35:9, 10, 18, 27, 28) with promises of praise for the desired relief, in which his friends will unite. The historical occasion is probably 1Sa 24:1-22.
1-3. God is invoked in the character of a warrior (Ex 15:3; De 32:41).
2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
PSALM 35
Psa 35:1-28. The Psalmist invokes God's aid, contrasting the hypocrisy, cunning, and malice of his enemies with his integrity and generosity. The imprecations of the first part including a brief notice of their conduct, the fuller exposition of their hypocrisy and malice in the second, and the earnest prayer for deliverance from their scornful triumph in the last, are each closed (Psa 35:9, 10, 18, 27, 28) with promises of praise for the desired relief, in which his friends will unite. The historical occasion is probably 1Sa 24:1-22.
1-3. God is invoked in the character of a warrior (Ex 15:3; De 32:41).
3Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
PSALM 35
Psa 35:1-28. The Psalmist invokes God's aid, contrasting the hypocrisy, cunning, and malice of his enemies with his integrity and generosity. The imprecations of the first part including a brief notice of their conduct, the fuller exposition of their hypocrisy and malice in the second, and the earnest prayer for deliverance from their scornful triumph in the last, are each closed (Psa 35:9, 10, 18, 27, 28) with promises of praise for the desired relief, in which his friends will unite. The historical occasion is probably 1Sa 24:1-22.
1-3. God is invoked in the character of a warrior (Ex 15:3; De 32:41).
4Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
4. (Compare Psa 9:17).
devise my hurt--purpose for evil to me.
5Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
5-6. (Compare Psa 1:4)--a terrible fate; driven by wind on a slippery path in darkness, and hotly pursued by supernatural violence (2Sa 24:16; Ac 12:23).
6Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
5-6. (Compare Psa 1:4)--a terrible fate; driven by wind on a slippery path in darkness, and hotly pursued by supernatural violence (2Sa 24:16; Ac 12:23).
7For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
7-8. net in a pit--or, "pit of their net"--or, "net-pit," as "holy hill" for "hill of holiness" (Psa 2:6); a figure from hunting (Psa 7:15). Their imprecations on impenitent rebels against God need no vindication; His justice and wrath are for such; His mercy for penitents. Compare Psa 7:16; 11:5, on the peculiar fate of the wicked here noticed.
8Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
7-8. net in a pit--or, "pit of their net"--or, "net-pit," as "holy hill" for "hill of holiness" (Psa 2:6); a figure from hunting (Psa 7:15). Their imprecations on impenitent rebels against God need no vindication; His justice and wrath are for such; His mercy for penitents. Compare Psa 7:16; 11:5, on the peculiar fate of the wicked here noticed.
9And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
10. All my bones--every part.
him that spoileth him--(Compare Psa 10:2).
11False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
11. False witnesses--literally, "Witnesses of injustice and cruelty" (compare Psa 11:5; 25:19).
12They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
12-14. Though they rendered evil for good, he showed a tender sympathy in their affliction.
spoiling--literally, "bereavement." The usual modes of showing grief are made, as figures, to express his sorrow.
13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
12-14. Though they rendered evil for good, he showed a tender sympathy in their affliction.
spoiling--literally, "bereavement." The usual modes of showing grief are made, as figures, to express his sorrow.
14I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
12-14. Though they rendered evil for good, he showed a tender sympathy in their affliction.
spoiling--literally, "bereavement." The usual modes of showing grief are made, as figures, to express his sorrow.
15But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
15-16. On the contrary, they rejoiced in his affliction. Halting, or, "lameness," as in Psa 38:17 for any distress.
abjects--either as cripples (compare 2Sa 4:4), contemptible; or, degraded persons, such as had been beaten (compare Job 30:1-8).
I knew it not--either the persons, or, reasons of such conduct.
tear me, and ceased not--literally, "were not silent"--showing that the tearing meant slandering.
16With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
15-16. On the contrary, they rejoiced in his affliction. Halting, or, "lameness," as in Psa 38:17 for any distress.
abjects--either as cripples (compare 2Sa 4:4), contemptible; or, degraded persons, such as had been beaten (compare Job 30:1-8).
I knew it not--either the persons, or, reasons of such conduct.
tear me, and ceased not--literally, "were not silent"--showing that the tearing meant slandering.
17Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
17. darling--(Compare Psa 22:20, 21).
18I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
18. (Compare Psa 22:22).
19Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
19. enemies wrongfully--by false and slanderous imputations.
wink with the eye--an insulting gesture (Pr 6:13).
without a cause--manifests more malice than having a wrong cause.
20For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
20. deceitful matters--or, "words of deceit."
quiet in the land--the pious lovers of peace.
21Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
21. On the gesture compare Psa 22:7; and on the expressions of malicious triumph, compare Psa 10:13; 28:3.
22This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.
23Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
23-24. (Compare Psa 7:6; 26:1; 2Th 1:6). God's righteous government is the hope of the pious and terror of the wicked.
24Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
23-24. (Compare Psa 7:6; 26:1; 2Th 1:6). God's righteous government is the hope of the pious and terror of the wicked.
25Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
25. swallowed him up--utterly destroyed him (Psa 21:9; La 2:16).
26Let 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.
26. clothed--covered wholly (Job 8:22).
27Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
27. favour ... cause--delight in it, as vindicated by Thee.
Let the Lord, &c.--Let Him be greatly praised for His care of the just.
28And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
28. In this praise of God's equitable government (Psa 5:8) the writer promises ever to engage.