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Psalm 35

Psalm 35 brings unprovoked hostility and betrayed kindness before God, asking him to defend the weak and judge their attackers.

David appeals to YHWH while enemies pursue him and witnesses bring accusations he does not understand. People whose sickness once moved him to fasting and mourning now celebrate his distress. He asks God to take up his defense, overturn their plots, and bring them to shame. The psalm moves between urgent pleas and promises of public praise. Its heading names David, but the particular conflict behind the prayer is not identified.

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1By David. Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.
2Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
3Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.
5Let them be as chaff before the wind, the LORD’s angel driving them on.
6Let their way be dark and slippery, the LORD’s angel pursuing them.
7For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
8Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.
9My soul shall be joyful in the LORD. It shall rejoice in his salvation.
10All my bones shall say, “LORD, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?”
11Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.
12They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.
13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
14I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.
15But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease.
16Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.
17Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.
18I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.
19Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.
20For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
21Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!”
22You have seen it, LORD. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.
23Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!
24Vindicate me, LORD my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me.
25Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”
26Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.
27Let those who favor my righteous cause shout for joy and be glad. Yes, let them say continually, “May the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!”
28My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.
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Key verses
Psalm 35:1The opening appeal places David’s conflict before YHWH, asking him to intervene against those who attack.
Psalm 35:10David’s promised praise centers on God’s unmatched care for the poor when their oppressors are too strong for them.
Psalm 35:26This plea asks God to reverse the triumph of those who celebrate David’s suffering and exalt themselves against him.
Where this chapter reaches

John connects Jesus’ rejection with the scriptural language of hatred without cause, a phrase found in Psalm 35. Exodus shares the picture of YHWH fighting to rescue his people, while Job also describes suffering made worse by hostile accusations.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What stands out to you in the contrast between David’s care for his enemies and their response?

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How does David’s appeal to God’s righteousness shape your understanding of his requests for judgment?

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Questions people ask about Psalm 35

Who wrote Psalm 35, and who were his enemies?

The heading attributes Psalm 35 to David. The enemies include pursuers, hostile witnesses, and people who repay his kindness with cruelty. No names or specific events appear. Connections with conflicts elsewhere in David’s life remain possible, but the psalm itself does not identify which conflict prompted it.

Why does David ask God to destroy his enemies in Psalm 35?

David describes attacks without cause, deceitful accusations, and cruelty from people he had treated with care. His requests seek the collapse of their plots, including an attacker falling into his own trap. He appeals to God’s righteousness for judgment. The psalm records a prayer addressed to God; it gives no command for personal retaliation.

Does Psalm 35 end with David being rescued?

The psalm does not report that the danger has ended. David continues asking God to defend him and silence those who gloat over his distress. The closing verses anticipate his supporters rejoicing and promise ongoing praise. Confidence in God’s righteousness stands alongside a plea whose outcome is still unreported.

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What the Bible says about anger →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).