Psalms 35:4

35:4 May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated!

May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed! ¹ 

Psalms 35:26-27

35:26 May those who want to harm me be totally embarrassed and ashamed! ² 

May those who arrogantly taunt me be covered with shame and humiliation! ³ 

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

May they continually say, ⁴  “May the Lord be praised, ⁵  for he wants his servant to be secure.” ⁶ 

[35:4]  ¹ tn The four prefixed verbal forms in this verse are understood as jussives. The psalmist is calling judgment down on his enemies. See also the distinct jussive form in v. 6.

[35:26]  ² tn Heb “may they be embarrassed and ashamed together, the ones who rejoice over my harm.”

[35:26]  ³ tn 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]  ⁴ tn The prefixed verbal forms in v. 27a are understood as jussives (see vv. 24b-26).

[35:27]  ⁵ tn 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]  ⁶ tn Heb “the one who desires the peace of his servant.”