Bible Commentaries
Psalms 35

Verse 3

Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

Say — By thy spirit assuring me of it: and by thy providence effecting it.

Verse 6

Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.

Their way — By which they flee, being chased.

Verse 7

For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

For — Out of mere malice.

Verse 10

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?

My bones — My whole body, as well as my soul.

Verse 13

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.

Returned — Although my fastings and prayers did them no good.

Verse 15

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:

Gathered — They were so full of joy, that they could not contain it in their own breasts, but sought to communicate it to others.

Abjects — Or, vile persons, either for the meanness of their condition, or for their wickedness.

Knew not — While I had no suspicion of them.

Tear me — My good name with calumnies, and reproaches and curses.

Verse 16

With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

Mockers — They made themselves buffoons and jesters, and accustomed themselves to mock and deride David, that thereby they might gain admittance to the tables of great men, which was all they sought for.

Verse 17

Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

Look on — Without affording me pity or help.

Darling — My soul, Heb. my only one; which is now left alone and forsaken by my friends, and hath none to trust in but God.

Verse 18

I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

I will — When I shall be restored to the liberty of the publick assemblies.

Verse 20

For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

For — They breathe out nothing but threatenings and war; they use not open violence but subtile artifices, against me and my followers, who desire nothing more than to live quietly and peaceably.

Verse 21

Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

Wide — To pour forth whole floods of scoffs and slanders.

ha — An expression of joy and triumph.

Our eye — What we have long desired and hoped for.

Verse 22

This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

This — Thou also hast seen, all their plots and threats, and all my distresses and calamities.

Keep not — Be not deaf, to my prayers. The same word signifies, both to be silent, and to be deaf.

Verse 23

Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

Awake — To plead my cause against mine adversaries.