Psalm 35:24 kjv
Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.
Psalm 35:24 nkjv
Vindicate me, O LORD my God, according to Your righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me.
Psalm 35:24 niv
Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me.
Psalm 35:24 esv
Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me!
Psalm 35:24 nlt
Declare me not guilty, O LORD my God, for you give justice.
Don't let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles.
Psalm 35 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 7:8 | "The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness..." | A direct plea for God to judge and vindicate. |
| Psa 43:1 | "Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation..." | Another plea for divine legal intervention and rescue. |
| Psa 54:1 | "Save me, O God, by your name, and vindicate me by your might." | Calling on God's name and power for vindication. |
| Psa 119:154 | "Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise." | Entrusting one's cause to God for advocacy. |
| 1 Sam 24:15 | "...May the LORD therefore be judge and decide between me and you..." | David trusting God as the ultimate arbiter over injustice. |
| Jer 11:20 | "O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously... let me see your vengeance..." | Jeremiah's appeal for God's just vengeance. |
| Deut 32:4 | "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness..." | Affirms God's perfect character as righteous and just. |
| Psa 9:8 | "He judges the world in righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness." | States God's role as the righteous Judge of all humanity. |
| Psa 36:6 | "Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep..." | Highlights the vastness and steadfastness of God's justice. |
| Isa 45:21 | "...There is no other God besides me, a righteous God and a Savior..." | Links God's righteousness with His power to save. |
| Mic 7:8 | "Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise..." | Direct counsel against the gloating of enemies over adversity. |
| Psa 13:4 | "...lest my enemy say, 'I have prevailed over him,' lest my foes rejoice..." | Expresses fear of enemies' triumph and pleading against it. |
| Psa 25:2 | "O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult..." | Similar request against enemy rejoicing and for God's honor. |
| Psa 38:16 | "For I said, 'Lest they rejoice over me who when my foot slips...' " | Confirms the shame and defeat felt if enemies triumph. |
| Psa 41:11 | "By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me." | An assurance that God's favor prevents enemy boasting. |
| Lam 1:5 | "...Her foes have become her masters; her enemies prosper, for the LORD has made her suffer..." | Depicts a situation where enemies prosper due to God's judgment, serving as a negative contrast to Ps 35:24. |
| Prov 24:17 | "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles..." | Proverbial wisdom urging against schadenfreude, reflecting a principle the psalmist desires for himself. |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written..." | Teaches believers to entrust all judgment and vengeance to God alone. |
| 1 Pet 2:23 | "...He continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." | Christ's example of committing His cause to God, the just Judge. |
| Acts 2:24 | "God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it." | The ultimate divine vindication through Christ's resurrection. |
| 1 Tim 3:16 | "...He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit..." | Confirms Christ's perfect righteousness by divine attestation. |
Psalm 35 verses
Psalm 35 24 Meaning
Psalm 35:24 is a fervent plea from the psalmist to God for righteous judgment and deliverance from his unjust adversaries. David implores the LORD to actively intervene as a divine Judge, declaring his innocence against false accusations and securing his freedom. This petition is not based on David's own merit, but on God's inherent character of perfect righteousness and justice. Crucially, the psalmist requests that his enemies be prevented from celebrating or gloating over his downfall, understanding that their perceived triumph would not only be a personal humiliation but also a profound dishonor to God's own name and reputation as the protector of His faithful servant.
Psalm 35 24 Context
Psalm 35 is a raw and urgent psalm of lament and imprecation penned by David, depicting his severe distress under the relentless, malicious attacks of treacherous enemies. These adversaries, who were once companions, falsely accuse him, return evil for good, and actively seek his ruin, celebrating his distress. David details his deep sorrow, profound sense of betrayal, and his desperate pleas for divine intervention against those who seek his life. He casts God in the role of a divine warrior (vv. 1-8) and judge, imploring Him to take up his cause. Verse 24 sits amidst this intense prayer for justice, serving as a direct appeal for God to step into His courtroom, affirm David's innocence, and most importantly, prevent his enemies from publicly reveling in his perceived defeat—an act that would dishonor both David and the very God he serves.
Psalm 35 24 Word analysis
- Vindicate me (שָׁפְטֵ֤נִי - shof·téni): This is from the Hebrew root shaphat, which means "to judge," "to rule," or "to deliver justice." The psalmist is not merely seeking sympathy, but a formal, righteous verdict from God that clears his name and establishes his innocence against false accusations, resulting in practical deliverance.
- O LORD (יְהוָ֣ה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, indicating His personal, eternal, and unchanging nature. Addressing God by this name emphasizes David's intimate relationship with the Creator and calls upon God's covenant faithfulness and power to act on behalf of His chosen one.
- my God (אֱלֹהָ֑י - eloháy): The possessive form of Elohim, denoting "my mighty God." This intensifies the personal connection and trust, highlighting David's reliance on God as his specific and personal protector and defender in the face of grave injustice.
- according to your righteousness (בְצִדְקָתֶךָ֫ - betsidqatékha): This phrase appeals directly to God's immutable character. Tzedaqah (righteousness) encompasses God's justice, integrity, and faithfulness to His covenant and His holy nature. David appeals to God to act consistent with who He is—a perfectly just Being who defends the innocent and rectifies wrongs—rather than on any deserving by the psalmist himself.
- and let them not rejoice over me! (וְאַל־יִשְׂמְח֖וּ לִ֥י הֵֽמָּה׃ - ve'al-yism'ḥu li hemmáh):
- let them not: A strong prohibition (al) combined with the jussive verb, conveying an urgent and emphatic request for God to prevent a specific outcome.
- rejoice (יִשְׂמְח֖וּ - yism'ḥu): More than simple happiness; it implies a gloating, triumphant celebration over an adversary's misfortune, publicly validating their wicked actions and the psalmist's suffering.
- over me (לִ֥י - li): Implies rejoicing "against" or "at the expense of" the psalmist's affliction and ruin.
- they (הֵֽמָּה - hemmáh): An emphatic pronoun, specifically underscoring "those" malicious enemies who wish to see his downfall and shame.
- Words-group analysis:
- "Vindicate me, O LORD, my God": This opening plea is intensely personal, demonstrating absolute dependence on God. It establishes a divine courtroom setting, positioning the psalmist as the plaintiff and God as the sovereign Judge. It speaks of an intimate yet powerful relationship between the supplicant and the Creator, inviting His authoritative intervention.
- "according to your righteousness": This phrase anchors the petition not in human worthiness or desire for vengeance, but in the unassailable character of God. It affirms that God's justice is perfect, reliable, and ultimately the only standard by which true judgment can be rendered. The request for vindication is thus rooted in theology, not self-pity.
- "and let them not rejoice over me!": This emphasizes the critical impact of God's intervention, not just on David's immediate safety, but on God's reputation. The enemy’s triumph would be perceived as a divine abandonment, causing God’s name to be dishonored among the wicked. It is a plea for God to act to safeguard His own glory and confirm His unwavering support for His faithful servants.
Psalm 35 24 Bonus section
The longing for vindication expressed in Psalm 35:24 finds its ultimate fulfillment and foreshadows the experience of Christ. Jesus, perfectly righteous, endured false accusations, an unjust trial, and mocking from His enemies (Lk 23:35-37). Their "rejoicing over" Him at the cross was absolute. Yet, God's inherent righteousness ensured Christ's divine vindication through the resurrection (Acts 2:24), proving His blamelessness and confirming His Messiahship and glorious status (Phil 2:9-11; 1 Tim 3:16). This profound New Testament fulfillment underscores that while delayed, true justice from God is never denied for His faithful servants. It also serves as a perpetual reminder of the divine warning in Proverbs 24:17 against gloating over the misfortunes of others, as judgment belongs to the LORD alone.
Psalm 35 24 Commentary
Psalm 35:24 encapsulates the core appeal of the psalmist for divine justice in the face of profound personal adversity and malicious slander. David calls upon God to fulfill His role as the ultimate, righteous Judge, specifically asking for a verdict that publicly affirms his innocence and reverses the accusations of his foes. This urgent request for "vindication" is deeply rooted in God's immutable character—His tzedaqah, or perfect righteousness and active fidelity to what is just. The psalmist implores God to act in a way consistent with His very nature, which cannot abide unaddressed injustice. The subsequent plea, "and let them not rejoice over me," underscores the spiritual stakes of this battle; the enemies' gloating would be interpreted as a divine sanction of their malice and a sign that God had forsaken His servant. Thus, the verse is not merely a cry for personal rescue, but a powerful entreaty for God to uphold His own honor and manifest His sovereign power and justice in the earthly realm, ensuring His truth ultimately prevails over wickedness. This reminds believers that God is the just judge who sees all things and will, in His time and according to His righteousness, set all wrongs right.