Sung Scripture for prayer, reflection, and worship.
This song is for those seeking God’s presence through the Psalms.
Psalm 16 is about Confidence in God's Protection and Eternal Life.
This is part of a complete project to set all 150 Psalms to music.
Every Psalm Set to Music — A Place of Prayer in a Noisy World.
Scripture Summary:
Psalm 35 is a passionate plea for divine justice from David, spoken in the midst of false accusation, betrayal, and relentless persecution. David calls on the Lord as a warrior and defender, asking God to rise up, fight on his behalf, and personally assure him of salvation. He asks that those who unjustly hunt him be stopped, exposed, and undone by their own schemes.
David contrasts his enemies’ cruelty with his own past compassion. Though he once mourned and prayed for them in their suffering, they now repay him with slander, mockery, and violence, rejoicing in his pain and fabricating lies against him. This betrayal deepens the psalm’s emotional weight—David is not only attacked but wounded by ingratitude and injustice.
Throughout the psalm, David repeatedly appeals to God’s awareness: “Lord, you have seen this.” He asks God not to remain silent or distant, but to act as righteous judge, vindicating the innocent and silencing malicious joy. The psalm moves from anguish to confidence, affirming that God rescues the poor and powerless from those too strong for them.
The psalm concludes with a vow of public praise. David anticipates vindication—not just for his own sake, but so that God’s righteousness is magnified. Those who love justice will rejoice, and David commits to proclaiming the Lord’s praise continually, trusting that God delights in the well-being of His servant.
Psalms 35
Of David.
1Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me;
fight against those who fight against me.
2Take up shield and armor;
arise and come to my aid.
3Brandish spear and javelin
against those who pursue me.
Say to me,
“I am your salvation.”
4May those who seek my life
be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
be turned back in dismay.
5May they be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them away;
6may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.
7Since they hid their net for me without cause
and without cause dug a pit for me,
8may ruin overtake them by surprise—
may the net they hid entangle them,
may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
9Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord
and delight in his salvation.
10My whole being will exclaim,
“Who is like you, Lord?
You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
the poor and needy from those who rob them.”
11Ruthless witnesses come forward;
they question me on things I know nothing about.
12They repay me evil for good
and leave me like one bereaved.
13Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14I went about mourning
as though for my friend or brother.
I bowed my head in grief
as though weeping for my mother.
15But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.
They slandered me without ceasing.
16Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;
they gnashed their teeth at me.
17How long, Lord, will you look on?
Rescue me from their ravages,
my precious life from these lions.
18I will give you thanks in the great assembly;
among the throngs I will praise you.
19Do not let those gloat over me
who are my enemies without cause;
do not let those who hate me without reason
maliciously wink the eye.
20They do not speak peaceably,
but devise false accusations
against those who live quietly in the land.
21They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha!
With our own eyes we have seen it.”
22 Lord, you have seen this; do not be silent.
Do not be far from me, Lord.
23Awake, and rise to my defense!
Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24Vindicate me in your righteousness, Lord my God;
do not let them gloat over me.
25Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”
or say, “We have swallowed him up.”
26May all who gloat over my distress
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who exalt themselves over me
be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant.”
28My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,
your praises all day long.
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