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A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
Let 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.
Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.
For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
All 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?
False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
But 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.
I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
But 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:
With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.
I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O LORD, be not far from me.
Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.
Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
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.
Let 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.
And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

New Defender's Study Bible Notes

35:1 Plead my cause. As in many of his psalms, David draws on his own experiences (opposition, warfare, betrayal, etc., as well as trust in God and ultimate deliverance). In addition, he is carried by divine inspiration to write in such a way that his own experiences parallel those of many other believers through the ages, and even those of the coming Messiah.


35:4 Let them be confounded. Psalm 35 is considered the first of the so-called “imprecatory psalms,” although there are verses of imprecation in previous psalms. See note on Psalm 5:10.


35:6 angel of the LORD. The “angel of the LORD” is mentioned only three times in the book of Psalms (Psalm 34:7; 35:5,6). This title is often given to the Lord Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate appearances.


35:8 that very destruction. A classic example of this principle being carried out was that of Haman being hanged on his own gallows (Esther 7:10).


35:11 False witnesses. The testimony of false witnesses is one of many notes in this psalm that mirrors the experience of Christ (Mark 14:55-59).


35:15 the abjects. The Hebrew word for “abjects” is used in Scripture only this one time. The intended meaning seems to be “wretched smiters” or “despicable attackers.”


35:17 my darling. See note on Psalm 22:20. The meaning of “my darling” seems to be “my only one,” and could well refer prophetically to Christ, as the only begotten of the Father.


35:18 great congregation. Compare Psalm 22:25; 40:9. There is a striking correlation between Psalm 35:17-18 with Psalm 22:20-22,25.


35:21 Aha, aha. An expression of malicious joy. See also Psalm 40:15; 70:3.


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