16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;
16 like profane mockers at a feast,
16 Like barbarians desecrating a shrine, they destroyed my reputation.
16 With ungodly mockers at feasts They gnashed at me with their teeth.
16 They mock me and call me names; they snarl at me.
32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.
32 The king of the north will play up to those who betray the holy covenant, corrupting them even further with his seductive talk, but those who stay courageously loyal to their God will take a strong stand.
32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
32 He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.
(Read Daniel 11:31-45)
The remainder of this prophecy is very difficult, and commentators differ much respecting it. From Antiochus the account seems to pass to antichrist. Reference seems to be made to the Roman empire, the fourth monarchy, in its pagan, early Christian, and papal states. The end of the Lord's anger against his people approaches, as well as the end of his patience towards his enemies. If we would escape the ruin of the infidel, the idolater, the superstitious and cruel persecutor, as well as that of the profane, let us make the oracles of God our standard of truth and of duty, the foundation of our hope, and the light of our paths through this dark world, to the glorious inheritance above.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 35:16
Commentary on Psalm 35:11-16
(Read Psalm 35:11-16)
Call a man ungrateful, and you can call him no worse: this was the character of David's enemies. Herein he was a type of Christ. David shows how tenderly he had behaved towards them in afflictions. We ought to mourn for the sins of those who do not mourn for themselves. We shall not lose by the good offices we do to any, how ungrateful soever they may be. Let us learn to possess our souls in patience and meekness like David, or rather after Christ's example.