Psalm 35
1599 Geneva Bible
35 1 So long as Saul was enemy to David, all that had any authority under him, to flatter their king (as is the course of the world) did also most cruelly persecute David: against whom he prayeth God to plead and to avenge his cause, 8 that they may be taken in their nets and snares, which they laid for him, that his innocency may be declared, 27 and that the innocent, which taketh part with him, may rejoice and praise the Name of the Lord, that thus delivereth his servant. 28 And so he promiseth to speak forth the justice of the Lord, and to magnify his Name all the days of his life.
A Psalm of David.
1 Plead thou my [a]cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight thou against them that fight against me.
2 [b]Lay hand upon the shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
3 Bring out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me, say unto my [c]soul, I am thy salvation.
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame, that seek after my soul: let them be turned back, and brought to confusion, that imagine mine hurt.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord [d]scatter them.
6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them.
7 For [e]without cause they have hid the pit and their net for me: without cause have they dug a pit for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon [f]him at unawares, and let his net, that he hath laid privily, take him: let him fall into [g]the same destruction.
9 Then my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 All my [h]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 him that is in misery, from him that spoileth him!
11 [i]Cruel witnesses did rise up: they asked of me things that I knew not.
12 They rewarded me evil for good, to [j]have spoiled my soul.
13 Yet I, when they were sick, I was clothed with a sack: I humbled my soul with fasting: and [k]my prayer was turned upon my bosom.
14 I behaved myself as to my friend, or as to my brother: I humbled myself, mourning as one that bewaileth his mother.
15 But in mine [l]adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: the abjects assembled themselves against me, and I knew not: they tare [m]me, and ceased not,
16 With the false scoffers at [n]banquets, gnashing their teeth against me.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou behold this? deliver my soul from their tumult, even my desolate soul from the lions.
18 So will I give thee thanks in a great Congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
19 Let not them that are mine enemies unjustly rejoice over me, neither let them [o]wink with the eye, that hate me without a cause.
20 For they speak not as friends: but they imagine deceitful words against the [p]quiet of the land.
21 And they gaped on me with their mouths, saying, Aha, aha, [q]our eye hath seen.
22 Thou hast seen it, O Lord: keep not silence: be not far from me, O Lord.
23 Arise and wake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God, and my Lord.
24 Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy [r]righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, [s]O our soul rejoice: neither let them say, We have devoured him.
26 Let them be confounded, and put to shame [t]together, that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed [u]with confusion and shame, that lift up themselves against me.
27 But let them be joyful and glad, [v]that love my righteousness: yea, let them say always, Let the Lord be magnified, which loveth the [w]prosperity of his servant.
28 And my tongue shall utter thy righteousness, and thy praise every day.
Footnotes
- Psalm 35:1 He desireth God to undertake his cause against them that did persecute him and slander him.
- Psalm 35:2 Albeit God can with his breath destroy all his enemies, yet the holy Ghost attributeth unto him these outward weapons to assure us of his present power.
- Psalm 35:3 Assure me against these tentations, that thou art the author of my salvation.
- Psalm 35:5 Smite them with the spirit of giddiness that their enterprises may be foolish, and they received just reward.
- Psalm 35:7 Showing that we may not call God to be a revenger, but only for his glory, and when our cause is just.
- Psalm 35:8 When he promiseth to himself peace.
- Psalm 35:8 Which he prepared against the children of God.
- Psalm 35:10 He attributeth his deliverance only to God, praising him therefore both in soul and body.
- Psalm 35:11 That would not suffer me to purge myself.
- Psalm 35:12 To have taken from me all comfort and brought me into despair.
- Psalm 35:13 I prayed for them with inward affection, as I would have done for myself: or, I declared mine affection with bowing down mine head.
- Psalm 35:15 When they saw me ready to slip, and as one that halted for infirmity.
- Psalm 35:15 With their railing words.
- Psalm 35:16 The word signifieth cakes: meaning that the proud courtiers at their dainty feasts scoff, rail, and conspire his death.
- Psalm 35:19 In token of contempt and mocking.
- Psalm 35:20 Or, clefts of the earth: meaning, himself and others in their misery.
- Psalm 35:21 They rejoiced as though they had now seen David overthrown.
- Psalm 35:24 It is the justice of God to give to the oppressors affliction and torment, and to the oppressed aid and relief, 2 Thess. 1:6.
- Psalm 35:25 Because we have that which we sought for, seeing he is destroyed.
- Psalm 35:26 That is, at once, were they never so many or mighty.
- Psalm 35:26 This prayer shall always be verified against them that persecute the faithful.
- Psalm 35:27 That at least favor my right, though they be not able to help me.
- Psalm 35:27 He exhorteth the Church to praise God for the deliverance of his servants, and for the destruction of his adversaries.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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