Psalm 35: The Surprising Promise Hidden in David's Prayer

Psalm 35 opens with King David turning to Hashem in prayer, asking Him to fight his enemies on his behalf:

"Plead my cause, Hashem, with those who strive with me; fight against those who fight against me."

David goes on to describe exactly how he hopes Hashem will come to his aid:

"Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to help me. Draw out the spear and block the way against my pursuers; say to my soul: I am your salvation."

The opening verses express David's complete reliance on Hashem as his true Protector and Deliverer.

David Describes His Suffering

David explains why he is asking for Hashem's intervention:

"For without cause they hid for me the pit of their net; without cause they dug it for my soul."

His enemies have harmed him without justification, yet David remains confident that Hashem will save him. He promises that once he is delivered, he will praise Hashem with all his heart:

"And my soul shall rejoice in Hashem; it shall delight in His salvation."

He continues:

"All my bones shall say: Hashem, who is like You, saving the poor from one stronger than he, the poor and needy from the one who robs him?"

Surrounded by False Accusers

In the second section of the psalm, David describes the painful betrayal he experienced.

False witnesses testify against him:

"Violent witnesses rise up; they ask me about things I do not know."

Those whom he had once treated with kindness repay him with cruelty:

"They repay me evil for good, bereavement to my soul."

David recalls how he fasted and prayed when they were suffering, treating them like close friends or family. Yet when he stumbled, they celebrated his downfall:

"But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered against me, strangers whom I did not know; they tore at me and did not stop."

Even in the midst of his pain, David promises that after Hashem saves him, he will publicly give thanks:

"I will thank You in the great congregation; among a mighty people I will praise You."

A Prayer for Justice and Redemption

In the final section, David prays that his enemies will not succeed or rejoice over his suffering:

"Let not my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; let not those who hate me without cause wink their eye."

He calls upon Hashem to answer his prayer:

"You have seen, Hashem, do not be silent; Lord, do not be far from me."

David looks forward to the day when those who seek his good will rejoice instead of his enemies:

"Let those who delight in my righteousness sing and rejoice, and let them always say: Hashem is great, Who desires the peace of His servant."

The psalm concludes with David's promise to continue praising Hashem:

"And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all day long."

The Full Chapter

(1) Of David. Plead my cause, Hashem, with those who strive with me; fight against those who fight against me.

(2) Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to help me.

(3) Draw out the spear and block the way against my pursuers; say to my soul: I am your salvation.

(4) Let those who seek my life be shamed and humiliated; let those who plot my harm retreat backward and be disgraced.

(5) Let them be like chaff before the wind, with an angel of Hashem driving them on.

(6) Let their path be dark and slippery, with an angel of Hashem pursuing them.

(7) For without cause they hid for me the pit of their net; without cause they dug it for my soul.

(8) Let ruin come upon him unawares; let his own net that he hid trap him; let him fall into it in ruin.

(9) And my soul shall rejoice in Hashem; it shall delight in His salvation.

(10) All my bones shall say: Hashem, who is like You, saving the poor from one stronger than he, the poor and needy from the one who robs him?

(11) Violent witnesses rise up; they ask me about things I do not know.

(12) They repay me evil for good, bereavement to my soul.

(13) But as for me, when they were ill, my clothing was sackcloth; I afflicted my soul with fasting, and my prayer would return to my own bosom.

(14) I walked about as though he were my friend or my brother; like one mourning for his mother, I bent down in gloom.

(15) But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered against me, strangers whom I did not know; they tore at me and did not stop.

(16) With hypocritical mockers at feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.

(17) Lord, how long will You look on? Restore my soul from their destructions, my only one from the young lions.

(18) I will thank You in the great congregation; among a mighty people I will praise You.

(19) Let not my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; let not those who hate me without cause wink their eye.

(20) For they do not speak peace; against the quiet ones of the land they devise deceitful words.

(21) They opened wide their mouths against me; they said: Aha, aha, our eyes have seen it.

(22) You have seen, Hashem, do not be silent; Lord, do not be far from me.

(23) Awaken and rise for my judgment, my Hashem and my Lord, for my cause.

(24) Judge me according to Your righteousness, Hashem my Hashem, and let them not rejoice over me.

(25) Let them not say in their hearts: Aha, our soul's desire. Let them not say: We have swallowed him up.

(26) Let those who rejoice in my misfortune be shamed and disgraced together; let those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and humiliation.

(27) Let those who delight in my righteousness sing and rejoice, and let them always say: Hashem is great, Who desires the peace of His servant.

(28) And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all day long.

3 Interesting Things to Know About Psalm 35

1. A Verse From This Psalm Appears in Nishmat Kol Chai

Verse 10,

"All my bones shall say: Hashem, who is like You, saving the poor from one stronger than he, the poor and needy from the one who robs him?"

is included in the prayer Nishmat Kol Chai.

2. Part of the Psalm Is Included in the Daily Prayers

Part of verse 27,

"Let those who delight in my righteousness sing and rejoice, and let them always say: Hashem is great, Who desires the peace of His servant,"

is quoted in the prayer Veya'atiu Kol L'ovdecha.

3. Hashem Fights the Battles of Those Who Study Torah

Midrash Shocher Tov explains the opening verse,

"Plead my cause, Hashem, with those who strive with me,"

as both King David's prayer and the prayer of the Jewish people, asking Hashem to fight on their behalf.

The Midrash begins with a verse from Isaiah describing the Jewish people as being "drunk," not from wine but from overwhelming suffering. They cry out to Hashem, recognizing that only He can protect them from their enemies.

The Midrash then asks an interesting question: How can a servant ask his master to go out and fight for him?

The answer is that Hashem Himself made this promise. He tells David:

"Engage in Torah, and I will fight your war."

The Midrash connects this idea to the verse:

"Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of Hashem."

It explains that when the Jewish people are engaged in the "Book," meaning the Torah, Hashem fights their battles and protects them from their enemies.

Conclusion

Psalm 35 is a heartfelt prayer from King David during a time of betrayal, false accusations, and persecution. It reminds us that when people fail us or turn against us, Hashem remains our ultimate Defender. Through David's unwavering faith, the psalm teaches us to seek justice through prayer, trust Hashem to fight our battles, and continue praising Him even while waiting for salvation.