Psalms 35

By David.

Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.

Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.

Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.”

Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.

Let them be as chaff before the wind, the LORD’s angel driving them on.

Let their way be dark and slippery, the LORD’s angel pursuing them.

For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.

Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.

My soul shall be joyful in the LORD. It shall rejoice in his salvation.

All my bones shall say, “LORD, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?”

Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.

They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.

I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.

But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease.

Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.

Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.

I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.

Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.

For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!”

You have seen it, LORD. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.

Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!

Vindicate me, LORD my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me.

Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”

Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.

Let those who favor my righteous cause shout for joy and be glad. Yes, let them say continually, “May the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!”

My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This psalm is a prayer for divine vindication amid intense personal persecution, expressing deep trust in God’s justice and deliverance. David calls on the Lord to fight on his behalf against treacherous enemies, appeals to God’s character as the defender of the weak, and moves from lament to confident praise, anticipating public thanksgiving when deliverance comes.

Flow.

The psalm opens with urgent supplication, invoking God as warrior against those who oppose the psalmist (vv. 1–3).
A series of imprecations follows, calling for the failure and exposure of hidden plots and false accusations (vv. 4–8, 19–26).
The psalmist contrasts his enemies’ malice with his own compassion and mourning on their behalf when they suffered (vv. 13–14).
It culminates in a vow to praise God publicly and a declaration that the righteous will rejoice in His salvation (vv. 27–28).

Connections.
Following chapter 34, where God is celebrated as the deliverer of the righteous who take refuge in Him, this psalm intensifies the realism of suffering and reliance on divine justice. While chapter 34 focuses on answered prayer and trust, chapter 35 wrestles with betrayal and the delay of justice, yet arrives at the same confidence: the Lord hears and saves. This theme of vindication in suffering prepares for chapter 36, which contrasts the wicked who plot evil with the steadfast love of God that protects the righteous—continuing the tension between human treachery and divine faithfulness.

What it teaches.
The psalm affirms that God is a just judge who defends the oppressed and executes judgment on deceit and malice (WCF 3.7). It reflects the principle that God’s people may cry out for justice without compromising their trust in His righteousness (HC LD 10). The contrast between the psalmist’s self-abasement in fasting (v. 13) and the enemies’ mockery (v. 16) highlights integrity before God, while the confidence in God’s vindication (v. 24) rests on His covenant faithfulness, not human merit (BC Art. 24). The affirmation that “all my bones” will praise God (v. 10) underscores the holistic devotion due to the One who delivers body and soul, echoing the fullness of redemption taught in CD I.13.

Apply.
When wronged, entrust justice to the Lord and respond with integrity, knowing He sees and will act in His time.

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