---
title: "Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5"
author: "John Calvin"
translator: "James Anderson"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 58 of 159
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/58/
cite: "John Calvin, tr. James Anderson, Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5, section 58. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/58/"
---

# Commentary on the Psalms, Volume 5

*John Calvin, tr. James Anderson*

Calvin on the Psalms, volume 5 of 5.

## 58. Psalm 35

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/58/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-calvin-commentary-on-the-psalms-volume-5/58/#p-N

[¶0] Of David

[¶1] 1 Plead, O Jehovah! with those who plead with me, Fight against those who fight against me.

[¶2] 2 Lay hold on shield and buckler, And rise up to my aid.

[¶3] 3 Draw out the spear, and stop my ears against my persecutors: Say to my soul, “Thy salvation am I.”

[¶4] 4 Let those be confounded and put to shame Who seek my soul, Let those be turned back and be abashed Who devise my hurt.

[¶5] 5 Let them be as chaff before the wind? And let the angel of Jehovah drive them.

[¶6] 6 Let their way be darkness and slipperiness; And let the angel of Jehovah pursue them:

[¶7] 7 For without a cause they have hid for me the pitfall of their net, Without a cause they have digged a pit for my soul.

[¶8] 8 Let there come upon him confusion of which he is not aware; And let the net which he hath hidden catch him; With confusion let him fall into it.

[¶9] 9 And my soul hath exulted in Jehovah, It shall rejoice in his salvation.

[¶10] 10 All my bones shall say, “O Jehovah! who is like to thee, “Rescuing the poor from him who is too strong for him, “The poor and wretched from his spoiler?”

[¶11] 11 Rise up do witnesses [that are] violent; Things which I have not known they ask me.

[¶12] 12 They repay me evil for good, To the bereaving of my soul.

[¶13] 13 But as for me, in their sickness my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted by fasting my soul; And my prayer upon my own bosom was turned.

[¶14] 14 As if he had been a friend, as if a brother to me, I behaved myself towards him: As he who mourneth heavily for his mother I humbled myself.

[¶15] 15 But they at my halting rejoiced, they were assembled together: Assembled together, I say, against me, were the abjects whom I had not known: They have torn with their lips and have not been silent.

[¶16] 16 Among perfidious jesters at feasts, They gnash upon me with their teeth.

[¶17] 17 O Lord! how long wilt thou behold it? Rescue my soul from their violence, From the lions my only one.

[¶18] 18 I will celebrate thee in the congregation great: Among people many I will praise thee.

[¶19] 19 Let not those rejoice over me, who unjustly are my enemies; Nor let those who hate me without a cause wink with the eye.

[¶20] 20 For peace they speak not;

[¶21] 21 They have opened against me their mouth; They have said, “Aha! aha! seen it hath our eye.”

[¶22] 22 Thou hast seen it also, O Jehovah: Be not silent, O Lord! be not far from me.

[¶23] 23 Arouse thyself, and awake for my judgment, My God! and my Lord! to my cause.

[¶24] 24 Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Jehovah, my God! And let them not rejoice over me.

[¶25] 25 Let them not say in their heart, “Aha! our soul!” Let them not say “We have destroyed him.”

[¶26] 26 Let those be ashamed and confounded together, Who rejoice at my calamity; Let those be clothed with shame and ignominy, Who magnify themselves against me.

[¶27] 27 But let those shout and rejoice, who favor my righteousness: And let them say continually, “Magnified be Jehovah! “Who loveth the peace of his servant.”

[¶28] 28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness; All the day of thy praise.