Focused Passage

Psalms 35:11-18

The LORD Contends for His Servant Against Malicious Enemies

urgent plea for the LORD to contend -> imprecation against hidden traps and causeless pursuers -> promised rejoicing in salvation -> exposure of false witnesses and betrayal -> lament over mocking cruelty -> renewed cry for rescue -> appeal to the LORD's seeing and righteousness -> reversal of enemy gloating -> congregational joy and continual praise

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

11Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.

12They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.

13Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.

14I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother.

15But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.

16Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.

17How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.

18Then I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 11

Original words

Hostileחָמָ֑סH2555Noun - masculine singularwitnessesעֵדֵ֣יH5707Noun - masculine plural constructcome forwardיְ֭קוּמוּןH6965Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nunthey make chargesיִשְׁאָלֽוּנִי׃H7592Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common singular-אֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeI knowיָ֝דַ֗עְתִּיH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularnothing {about}לֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particle
Verse 12

Original words

They repay meיְשַׁלְּמ֣וּנִיH7999Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common singularevilרָ֭עָהH7451Adjective - feminine singularforתַּ֥חַתH8478Prepositiongoodטוֹבָ֗הH2896Noun - feminine singular[to] the bereavementשְׁכ֣וֹלH7908Noun - masculine singularof my soulלְנַפְשִֽׁי׃H5315Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 13

Original words

Yetוַאֲנִ֤י׀H589Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singularwhen they were illבַּחֲלוֹתָ֡םH2470Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine pluralI put onלְב֬וּשִׁיH3830Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularsackclothשָׂ֗קH8242Noun - masculine singularI humbledעִנֵּ֣יתִיH6031Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singularmyselfנַפְשִׁ֑יH5315Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularwith fastingבַצּ֣וֹםH6685Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularbut my prayersוּ֝תְפִלָּתִ֗יH8605Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularreturnedתָשֽׁוּב׃H7725Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularunansweredעַל־H5921Preposition. . .חֵיקִ֥יH2436Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Literally returned to my bosom
Verse 14

Original words

I paced aboutהִתְהַלָּ֑כְתִּיH1980Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - first person common singularas for my friendכְּרֵֽעַ־H7453Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singularor brotherכְּאָ֣חH251Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singularI was bowed downשַׁחֽוֹתִי׃H7817Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularwith griefקֹדֵ֥רH6937Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularlike one mourningכַּאֲבֶל־H57Preposition-k | Adjective - masculine singular construct[for his] motherאֵ֝֗םH517Noun - feminine singular
Verse 15

Original words

But when I stumbledוּבְצַלְעִי֮H6761Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularthey assembledוְֽנֶאֱ֫סָ֥פוּH622Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralin gleeשָׂמְח֪וּH8055Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralthey gathered togetherנֶאֶסְפ֬וּH622Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralagainst meעָלַ֣יH5921Preposition | first person common singularAssailantsנֵ֭כִיםH5222Adjective - masculine pluralI did notוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleknowיָדַ֑עְתִּיH3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularslandered meקָֽרְע֥וּH7167Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralwithoutוְלֹא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleceasingדָֽמּוּ׃H1826Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Verse 16

Original words

Like godlessבְּ֭חַנְפֵיH2611Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine plural constructjestersלַעֲגֵ֣יH3934Adjective - masculine plural constructat a feastמָע֑וֹגH4580Noun - masculine singularthey gnashedחָרֹ֖קH2786Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolutetheir teethשִׁנֵּֽימוֹ׃H8127Noun - cdc | third person masculine pluralat meעָלַ֣יH5921Preposition | first person common singular

BSB notes

  • Or Like a godless circle of mockers,
Verse 17

Original words

How longכַּמָּ֪הH4100InterrogativeO Lordאֲדֹנָי֮H136Noun - proper - masculine singularwill You look onתִּ֫רְאֶ֥הH7200Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularRescueהָשִׁ֣יבָהH7725Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singularmy soulנַ֭פְשִׁיH5315Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularfrom their ravagesמִשֹּׁאֵיהֶ֑םH7722Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine pluralmy precious lifeיְחִידָתִֽי׃H3173Adjective - feminine singular construct | first person common singularfrom these lionsמִ֝כְּפִירִ֗יםH3715Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 18

Original words

Then I will give You thanksא֭וֹדְךָH3034Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular | second person masculine singularin the greatרָ֑בH7227Adjective - masculine singularassemblyבְּקָהָ֣לH6951Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularI will praise Youאֲהַֽלְלֶֽךָּ׃H1984Verb - Piel - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singular | second person masculine singularamong manyעָצ֣וּםH6099Adjective - masculine singularpeopleבְּעַ֖םH5971Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.