Psalms 35:19-28

Context

35:19 Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason¹ gloat² over me!

Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes!³

35:20 For they do not try to make peace with others,⁴

but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting.⁵

35:21 They are ready to devour me;⁶

they say, “Aha! Aha! We’ve got you!”⁷

35:22 But you take notice,⁸ Lord!

O Lord, do not remain far away from me!

35:23 Rouse yourself, wake up⁹ and vindicate me!¹⁰

My God and Lord, defend my just cause!¹¹

35:24 Vindicate me by your justice, O Lord my God!

Do not let them gloat¹² over me!

35:25 Do not let them say to themselves,¹³ “Aha! We have what we wanted!”¹⁴

Do not let them say, “We have devoured him!”

35:26 May those who want to harm me be totally embarrassed and ashamed!¹⁵

May those who arrogantly taunt me be covered with shame and humiliation!¹⁶

35:27 May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice!

May they continually say,¹⁷ “May the Lord be praised,¹⁸ for he wants his servant to be secure.”¹⁹

35:28 Then I will tell others about your justice,²⁰

and praise you all day long.²¹

[35:19] ¹tn Heb “[with] a lie.” The Hebrew noun שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, “lie”) is used here as an adverb, “falsely, wrongfully” (see Ps 38:19).

[35:19] ²tn Heb “rejoice.”

[35:19] ³tn Heb “[do not let] those who hate me without cause pinch [i.e., wink] an eye.” The negative particle is understood in the second line by ellipsis (see the preceding line). In the Book of Proverbs “winking an eye” is associated with deceit and trickery (see 6:13; 10:10; 16:30).

[35:20] ⁴tn Heb “for they do not speak peace.”

[35:20] ⁵tn Heb “but against the quiet ones of the land words of deceit they plan.” The imperfect verbal forms in v. 20 highlight their characteristic behavior.

[35:21] ⁶tn Heb “and they cause their mouth to be wide against me.” The prefixed verbal form with vav (ו) consecutive here carries on the generalizing mood of the previous verse. For other examples of this use of the prefixed verbal form with vav consecutive, see GKC 329 §111.t.

[35:21] ⁷tn Heb “our eye sees.” Apparently this is an idiom meaning to “look in triumph” or “gloat over” (see Ps 54:7).

[35:22] ⁸tn Heb “you see, O Lord.” There is a deliberate play on words. In v. 21 the enemies say, “our eye sees,” but the psalmist is confident that the Lord “sees” as well, so he appeals to him for help (see also v. 17).

[35:23] ⁹sn Though he is confident that the Lord is aware of his situation (see v. 22a), the psalmist compares the Lord’s inactivity to sleep and urges him to wake up.

[35:23] ¹⁰tn Heb “for my justice.”

[35:23] ¹¹tn Heb “for my cause.”

[35:24] ¹²tn Heb “rejoice.”

[35:25] ¹³tn Heb “in their heart[s].”

[35:25] ¹⁴tn Heb “Aha! Our desire!” The “desire” of the psalmist’s enemies is to triumph over him.

[35:26] ¹⁵tn Heb “may they be embarrassed and ashamed together, the ones who rejoice over my harm.”

[35:26] ¹⁶tn Heb “may they be clothed with shame and humiliation, the ones who magnify [themselves] against me.” The prefixed verbal forms in v. 26 are understood as jussives (see vv. 24b-25, where the negative particle אַל (’al) appears before the prefixed verbal forms, indicating they are jussives). The psalmist is calling down judgment on his enemies.

[35:27] ¹⁷tn The prefixed verbal forms in v. 27a are understood as jussives (see vv. 24b-26).

[35:27] ¹⁸tn The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive, “may the Lord be magnified [in praise].” Another option is to take the verb as an imperfect, “the Lord is great.”

[35:27] ¹⁹tn Heb “the one who desires the peace of his servant.”

[35:28] ²⁰tn Heb “and my tongue will proclaim your justice.”

[35:28] ²¹tn Heb “all the day your praise.” The verb “proclaim” is understood by ellipsis in the second line (see the previous line).