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Psalm 35:12
They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.
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.
Notice
Evil returned for good leaves the speaker bereft, and the next lines show how much care he had given those who hurt him.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
When, if ever, has good you offered been returned with harm?
Write on thisWhat loss does the phrase “the bereaving of my soul” help you name, if any?
Write on thisHow do the speaker’s prayers during their sickness shape your reading of his complaint?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
11 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
John 10:32Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”Jesus names good works from his Father while facing stoning, sharing the psalm’s contrast between good done and harm returned.
Psalm 38:20They who give evil for good are also adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.Both speakers describe people returning evil for good, with Psalm 38 naming those people as adversaries.
Jeremiah 18:20Should evil be recompensed for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from …Both passages protest evil repaid for good, and their surrounding words describe prayer offered on behalf of those causing harm.
Proverbs 17:13Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.Both name the act of rewarding evil for good; the psalm describes its wound, while the proverb warns of its consequences.
Luke 23:21–23but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!”Both passages describe hostility toward someone; Luke’s quoted line specifies a demand for crucifixion without naming prior good.
Psalm 109:3–5They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.Both speakers suffer hostility they describe as undeserved: evil returned for good here, and hatred without cause in Psalm 109.
Psalm 109:4In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.Both speakers describe care met with hostility: good receives evil in Psalm 35, and love meets adversaries in Psalm 109.
1 Samuel 20:31–33For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you will not be established, nor will your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall …Both texts describe harm directed at someone, though Samuel’s quoted line gives a death order without mentioning good repaid with evil.
Genesis 44:4When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men. When you overtake them, ask them, ‘Why …Both use the language of rewarding evil for good, though Genesis presents an accusation Joseph instructs his steward to make.
1 Samuel 19:4Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Don’t let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against …Jonathan’s plea against harming David names David’s good works toward Saul, matching the psalm’s concern with evil returned for good.
1 Samuel 19:15Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.”Both texts describe someone facing harm from others; Saul’s order to kill David does not itself mention David’s prior good.
Where this verse fits
Broken friendship. injustice and anger. family conflict.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The God addressed in this psalm delivers the poor from those too strong for them. The hurt named here belongs within prayer to him.
Now put it in your words.
Start an entry on Psalm 35:12. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.
Keep goingPsalm 35 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms
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).