Psalms 35

David prayeth very fervently to God, to take his cause in hand, and to fight for him against his Enemies, that he may have cause to praise and thank him for it: he describeth his enemies plotting, falsehood, unthankfulness, and desperate malioe, desiring just vengeance to the honour of God, his own preservation, and the joy of all the godly.

1. (A Psalm) of David. Contend, LORD, with my Contenders: [Or, plead, debate, etc. i.e. take thou my cause in hand, and maintain my right against mine adversaries, manifesting thereby indeed, that it is not so much mine as thine own cause. See below Psalms 43:1. and 74.22. and 119.154. Isaiah 49:25. Jer.50.34. and 51.36, etc.] fight with my Antagonists.

2. Lay hold on the shield and target, and stand up to my help.

3. And bring forth [Or, pull, draw, bring out] the spear, and shut up (the way) [Hebr. Segor. Which some conceive to have been a warlike weapon] to encounter my persecutors [i.e. prevent them that persecute me; sally forth to meet them, and cut off their passage] say to my soul, [testify thus much by thy holy spirit within me. Compare Romans 8.verse 16.] I am thy salvation. [or, deliverance, preservation, i.e. thy Saviour and Preserver.]

4. Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek my soul, [i.e. that go about to take away my life. See 2 Sam.4.on verse 8.] let them be driven back, and intend, purpose) my evil, i.e. how distress, oppress and destroy me.]

5. Let them become as chaff before the wind: and the Angel of the LORD drive them away.

6. Their way be dark and quite slippery, Heb. Darkness and slipperiness; that they may not be able to proceed, for to overtake me. Compare Jerem.23.12.] and the Angel of the LORD pursue them.

7. For without cause. [Heb. In vain, for nothing, i.e. without any ground or reason, and so in the sequel and below v.19. and elsewhere. See Job 2.on v.3.] have they hid before me the pit of their net, [i.e. wherein they had laid their net, a similitude taken from fowlers or huts men. The meaning is, They have laid plots to take away my life, and practise evil and cunning devices against me, which are often compared to nets. See above Psa.9.16. and 10.9. and 25.15.and 31.7,8. And 141.10. &c.] without cause have they digged [a pit namely, out of Psa.7.16.] for my soul.

8. The destruction [The Hebrew word doth signify such a destruction, or desolation, as is accompanied with a great deal of noise, stir, uproar, and mighty commotion] come (or, seize) upon him, [That persecutes me, my persecutor.] that he know not of it, [i.e. at unaways, when he least thinketh, and not at all expects it] and his net, that he hath hid, catch himself: let him fall into it with destruction. [i.e. So that thereby he be quite destroyed and consumed. Oth. When there is destruction, let him fall therein.]

9. So my soul shall rejoice in the LORD: she shall be glad in his salvation.

10. All my bones shall say: [i.e. I shall praise thee then, with all my inmost power, or with all the strength and ability of my body. Compare Psalm 51.on verse 10.] LORD, who is like unto thee that rescueth the wretched from him, that is stronger than he: and the wretched and needy from his spoiler.

11. Violent accusers [Heb. Accusers of violence, or, insolence, i.e. such as go about to oppress with falsehood, and fall on with violence] stand up; that which I know not, require they of me. [i.e. they lay to my charge things I am not conscious of.]

12. They requite me evil for good, the spoiling of my soul. [i.e. they go about to bereave me of my life.]

13. As for me on the contrary, when they were sick, a sack-(cloth) was my garment; [i.e. I went mourning for them. See Genesis 37.on ver.34.] I afflicted my soul with fasting, and my prayer turned again into my bosom. [i.e. I did often in private, and by my self, repeat my prayer on their behalf; implying hereby, he wished them well very uprightly. Oth. Let my prayers turn again into my bosom, or lap, i.e. me obtain that which I prayed on their behalf.]

14. I went still as if it had been a friend, as if it had been a brother to me: [i.e. I carried and demeaned my self no otherwise, then if they had been of my nearest kindred. Otherwise. I went still to them, as to, etc. i.e. I did daily visit them.] I went bowed in black, [i.e. in black apparel, as those are wont, that mourn So Psalms 38:7. and 42.27. See likewise Job 5:11.] as one that mourneth over (his) mother.

15. But when I halted, [i.e. when it went ill and cross with me; when I seemed ready to stumble and fall. So Psalms 38:18. Jerem.20.10. compare Job 12:5.] they were glad, and gathered together: they gathered to me, as smitten (ones) [viz. In their feet, as some do take this, i.e. carrying themselves, as if they were lamed, and halting for grief of my disaster. See 2 Sam.4.4. and 9.3. where these Mephibosheths case, or, understand, stricken, i.e. dejected, distempered in spirit, out of Isaiah 66.verse 6. The sence being the same; or, as stricken together with him; being that with their outward garb and carriage (of halting and rendering of clothes) they would make him believe, that they were much troubled and afflicted for Davids sufferings; though falsely and hypocritally. Otherwise there words may also be rendered in this manner. Varlets or Villaines, (such as are notoriously known to have deserved strokes, or lashes of public correction; i.e. the basest and most vile rascality of the people, being set on for that purpose) gathered together against me, those whom I knew not; (and consequently had never wronged or offended) they rent (up) the throat, i.e. they jeered and insulted over me, et ceased not. Both readings have a good sence, though that put in the Text, seems to agree most with the propriety of the Hebrew phrase; whereof the judicious Reader hath his liberty to judge] and I apprehended nothing: [viz. No evil. I did not think they plaid the hypocrite and dissembles, abusing me thus to my face, but verily believed, they did it sincerely, and with upright hearts] they rent (their garments,) and did not hold their peace. [but comforted me, and wept and cryed over me. Or, yet they were not silent: but behind my back they shewed sufficiently, how they meant it, as followeth.]

16. Among the hypocritical, scoffing table-companions [or, pot-companions, parasites, trencher-men. Hebr. Fers. Her. Scoffing of the cook, i.e. such as fell their morsel; speaking and doing any thing, for to please and humour those that fill panches; wherefore also the Hebrew word is taken sometimes for to signify further, a Jester, Player. He will say, that when they are in such company of their own making, then they utter the utmost of their hearts-gall against me, wishing me all the evil they can, and vexing, that they see me hold out so long yet] do they gnash with their teeth over me. [of the gnashing of the Teeth, see Job 16.on verse 9.]

17. LORD, how long wilt thou look on? Bring back my soul from their destructions; my solitary (one) (or, onely one) [understand, my soul, as Psalms 22:21. See the annotation there] from the young Lions.

18. So shall I praise thee in the great Congregation; among a mighty multitude of people, shall I praise thee.

19. Let them not rejoice over me, that are enemies to me for false causes; [Heb. Lies, falsehood, falsly, i.e. wrongfully without any ground. As Psalms 38:20. and 69.5.] (nor) wink with eyes, [i.e. spightfully and scornfully glance upon me, as threatening and ready to tell me, you shall be taught anon, or met withal Sir, &c. Compare Proverbs 6.on verse 13. And 10. Verse 10.] those that hate me without cause. [as above verse 7.]

20. For they speak not of peace, but they devise deceitful things [Heb. Words, or, things of deceitfulnesses, or wiles] against the still (ones) (or quite ones) in the land. [Hebr. Still (Ones) of the land, or, earth: i.e. the peaceable, such as would fain live quietly, and serve God, without wishing, intending, or doing harm to any, as is the manner of the godly.]

21. And they open their mouth wide against me; they say, Ha Ha, [i.e. So, so; now it goes well; thus we do love it, now we see out hearts desire, and that we long wished for. Compare Psalm 22.on vers.18. and see Job 39.on verse 18.] our eye hath seen it!

22. LORD, thou hast seen it in; be not silent, Lord be not far from me.

23. Awake and rise up to my right: [To do me right against mine enemies and persecutions; until thou performest that, thou art like one that sleepeth.] my God and LORD, to my controversy.

24. Do me right, according to thy righteousness, [Which requireth that thou take my rightful cause in hand.] LORD my God; and let them not rejoice over me.

25. Let them not say in their heart: Heal our soul! [As if they should say, Now, chear up and triumph O our souls; for we see our hearts desire upon him. See above,vers.21.] let them not say, We have swallowed him up!

26. Let them be ashamed and blush together, that rejoice in my evil: let them be clothed with shamed and reproach, [See Job 8.on verse 22.] that magnify themselves against me. [that seek to raise themselves upon my oppression, and ruine; or, that carry themselves so stout and spitefull against me, braving and daring me in words and deeds. See this manner of speaking, Jer.48.26,42. Ezek.35.13. Obad.12. and Psalms 38:17. and 55.13. and further, Job 19:5. together with the Annot.]

27. let them sing cheerfully and be glad, that delight in my righteous cause, [i.e. that are heartily affected to the same, praying for an happy issue; for which they thank and magnify God] and let them continually say; the LORD be magnified; that delighteth in the peace of his servant. [i.e. In the deliverance and welfare of David, that is his servant. See Gen.37.on verse 14.]

28. So shall my tongue record thy righteousness, (and) thy praise all the day (long.)