rd

Psalms 35

1 So long as Saúl was enemie to David, all that had any authority under him to flatter their King (as is the course of the world) did also most cruelly persecute David against whom he praieth God to plead and to avenge his cause, 8 That they may be taken in their nets & snares, which they laied for him, that his innocencie may be declared, 27 And that the innocent, which taketh part with him, may rejoyce and praise the Name of the Lord, that thus delivereth his servants 28 And so he promiseth to speak forth the justice of the Lord, and to magnify his Name all the dayes of his life.
A psalme
1.Plead thou my acause, ô Lord, with them that strive with me: fight thou against them, that fight against me.
2.bLay hand upon the shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
3.Bring out also the spear and stop the way against them, that persecute me: say unto my csoul, I am thy salvation.
4.Let them be confounded and put to shame, that seek after my soul: let them be turned back, and brought to confusion, that imagine mine hurt.
5.Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the Angel of the Lord dscatter them
6.Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them.
7.For ewithout cause they have hid the pit and their net for me: without cause have they digged a pit for my soul.
8.Let destruction come upon fhim at unwares, and let his net, that he hath laied prively, take him: let him fall into gthe same destruction.
9.Then my soul shalbe joyful in the Lord: it shal rejoyce in his salvation.
10.All my hbones shal say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him, that is too strong for him! yea, the poor and him that is in misery, from him that spoileth him!
11.iCruel witnesses did rise up: they asked of me things that I knewe not.
12.They rewarded me evil for good, to khave spoiled my soul.
13.Yet I, when they were sick, I was clothed with a sack: I humbled my soul with fasting: and lmy praier was turned upon my bosom.
14.I behaved my self as to my friend, or as to my brother: I humbled my self, mourning as one that bewaileth his mother.
15.But in mine madversity they rejoiced, and gathered them selves together: the abjects assembled them selves against me, and I knewe not: they tare nme and ceased not,
16.With the false scoffers at obankets, gnashing their teeth against me.
17.Lord, how long wilt thou behold this? deliver my soul from their tumult, even my desolate soul from the lions.
18.So wil I give thee thanks in a great Congregation: I wil praise thee among much people.
19.Let not them that are mine enemies, unjustly rejoyce over me, neither let them pwink with the eye, that hate me without a cause.
20.For they speak not as friends: but they imagine deceitful words against the ^quite of the land.
21.And they gaped on me with their mouths, saying, Aha, aha, qour eye hath seen.
22.Thou hast seen it, ô Lord: keep not silence: be not far from me, ô Lord.
23.Arise and wake to my judgement, even to my cause, my God, and my Lord.
24.Judge me, ô Lord my God, according to thy rrighteousness, and let them not rejoyce over me.
25.Let them not say in their hearts, sO our soul rejoyce: neither let them say, We have devoured him.
26.Let them be confounded, and put to shame ttogether, that rejoyce at mine hurt: let them be clothed uwith confusion and shame, that lift up them selves against me.
27.But let them be joyful and glad, xthat love my righteousness: yea, let them say alwaie, Let the Lord be magnified, which loveth the yprosperity of his servant.
28.And my tongue shal utter thy righteousness, and thy praise every day.

Notes

1-a.
He desires God to undertake his cause against them that did persecute him and slander him.
2-b.
Albeit God can with his breath destroy all his enemies, yet the holy Ghost attributes unto him these outward weapons to assure us of his present power.
3-c.
Assure me against these tentations, that you are the author of my salvation.
5-d.
Smite them with the spirit of giddiness that their enterprises may be foolish, and they receive just reward.
7-e.
Showing that we may not call God to be a revenger, but only for his glory, and when our cause is just.
8-f.
When he promises to himself peace.
8-g.
Which he prepared against the children of God.
10-h.
He attributes his deliverance only to God, praising him therefore both in soul and body.
11-i.
That would not suffer me to purge myself.
12-k.
To have taken from me all comfort and brought me into despair.
13-l.
I prayed for them with inward affection, as I would have done for my self, or I declared my affection with bowing down my head.
15-m.
When they saw me ready to slip and as one that halted for infirmity.
15-n.
With their railing words.
16-o.
The word signifies cakes meaning that the proud courtiers at their dainty feasts scoff, rail, and conspire his death.
19-p.
In token of contempt and mocking.
20-^.
Or, clefts of the earth: meaning himself and others in their misery.
21-q.
They rejoiced as though they had now seen David overthrown.
24-r.
It is the justice of God to give to the oppressors affliction & torment, and to the oppressed, aid and relief, 2 Thess. 1.6.
25-s.
Because we have that which we sought for, seeing he is destroyed.
26-t.
That is, at once, were they never so many or mighty.
26-u.
This prayer shall always be verified against them, that persecute the faithful.
27-x.
That at least favour my right, though they be not able to help me.
27-y.
He exhorts the Church to praise God for the deliverance of his servants, and for the destruction of his adversaries.