Psalms Chapter 35 — A Prayer for Vindication
The psalmist calls upon God to act as a defender against ungrateful enemies who respond to kindness with betrayal and false witness.
1Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me.
2Take hold of shield and buckler,
3Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me.
4Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor.
5Let them be as chaff before the wind,
6Let their way be dark and slippery,
7For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me.
8Let destruction come on him unawares.
9My soul shall be joyful in the LORD.
10All my bones shall say, “LORD, who is like you,
11Unrighteous witnesses rise up.
12They reward me evil for good,
13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth.
14I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother.
15But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together.
16Like the profane mockers in feasts,
17Lord, how long will you look on?
18I will give you thanks in the great assembly.
19Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me;
20For they don’t speak peace,
21Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me.
22You have seen it, LORD. Don’t keep silent.
23Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God!
24Vindicate me, LORD my God, according to your righteousness.
25Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!”
26Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity.
27Let those who favor my righteous cause shout for joy and be glad.
28My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalms 35:10
“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?””
This verse emphasizes God’s unique power to protect the vulnerable from those who are significantly more powerful.
Psalms 35:13-14
“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.”
These verses highlight the sharp contrast between the psalmist's former compassion and the current cruelty of his enemies.
Psalms 35:28
“My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.”
It concludes the psalm with a commitment to continuous public worship following God's expected intervention.
Chapter Summary
Psalm 35 is a plea for divine intervention against malicious foes. The writer asks God to take up weapons—shield, buckler, and spear—to block those who pursue him without cause. The text highlights a deep sense of betrayal; the psalmist describes how he mourned and wore sackcloth when his enemies were ill, yet they rejoiced and mocked him during his own time of trouble. He describes them as unrighteous witnesses who reward evil for good. Throughout the chapter, the psalmist expresses a desire for God to wake up and defend his cause, appealing to God's own righteousness for vindication. He promises that if he is delivered, he will offer thanks in the great assembly and praise God’s righteousness all day long. The chapter concludes with a call for those who support the righteous cause to shout for joy and be glad in the Lord's salvation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The psalmist requests that God actively defend him against attackers by using military imagery like shields and spears. He asks for his enemies to be confounded and for God to vindicate him against false accusations based on his righteousness.
According to verses 13 and 14, the psalmist treated his enemies with the care of a friend or brother. He wore sackcloth and fasted when they were sick, showing genuine compassion before they turned against him.
The term refers to people who stand up to give false testimony against the psalmist in a legal or social context. They accuse him of things he did not do and repay his previous goodness with malice.
The psalmist uses imagery of a warrior—including shields, bucklers, and spears—to ask God to physically and spiritually block his pursuers. This poetic language portrays God as a powerful protector in a time of extreme danger and betrayal.
Study Note
This chapter is a primary example of an imprecatory psalm, characterized by its appeal for God to bring judgment and shame upon malicious enemies who have betrayed the writer.
Related Chapters
Psalm 69
Another imprecatory psalm where the writer seeks God's help against those who hate him without cause.
Matthew 5
Contrasts the plea for judgment in Psalm 35 with Jesus' teaching on loving one's enemies.
1 Samuel 24
Provides historical context for David's refusal to harm Saul, despite Saul pursuing him without cause.
Continue in the App
Get the full experience — immersive audio, instant explanations, highlights, notes, and reading plans.