17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my only one from the young lions. 18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise thee among much people. 19 Let not them that are wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; let them not wink with the eye that hate me without cause. 20 For they speak not peace; and they devise deceitful words against the quiet in the land. 21 And they opened their mouth wide against me; they said, Aha! aha! our eye hath seen [it]. 22 Thou hast seen [it], Jehovah: keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me. 23 Stir up thyself, and awake for my right, for my cause, my God and Lord! 24 Judge me, Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their heart, Aha! so would we have it. Let them not say, We have swallowed him up. 26 Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine adversity; let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. 27 Let them exult and rejoice that delight in my righteousness; and let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified, who delighteth in the prosperity of his servant. 28 And my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness, [and] of thy praise, all the day.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 35:17-28
Commentary on Psalm 35:17-28
(Read Psalm 35:17-28)
Though the people of God are, and study to be, quiet, yet it has been common for their enemies to devise deceitful matters against them. David prays, My soul is in danger, Lord, rescue it; it belongs to thee the Father of spirits, therefore claim thine own; it is thine, save it! Lord, be not far from me, as if I were a stranger. He who exalted the once suffering Redeemer, will appear for all his people: the roaring lion shall not destroy their souls, any more than he could that of Christ, their Surety. They trust their souls in his hands, they are one with him by faith, are precious in his sight, and shall be rescued from destruction, that they may give thanks in heaven.