New International VersionBut when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing.
New Living TranslationBut they are glad now that I am in trouble; they gleefully join together against me. I am attacked by people I don’t even know; they slander me constantly.
English Standard VersionBut at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me; wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing;
Berean Standard BibleBut when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.
King James BibleBut in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
New King James VersionBut in my adversity they rejoiced And gathered together; Attackers gathered against me, And I did not know it; They tore at me and did not cease;
New American Standard BibleBut at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; The afflicted people whom I did not know gathered together against me, They slandered me without ceasing.
NASB 1995But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; The smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me, They slandered me without ceasing.
NASB 1977But at my stumbling they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together; The smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me, They slandered me without ceasing.
Legacy Standard BibleBut at my stumbling they were glad and gathered themselves together; The smiters whom I did not know gathered together against me, They tore at me and never were silent.
Amplified BibleBut in my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered together [against me]; The slanderers whom I did not know gathered against me; They slandered and reviled me without ceasing.
Christian Standard BibleBut when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; they gathered against me. Assailants I did not know tore at me and did not stop.
Holman Christian Standard BibleBut when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; they gathered against me. Assailants I did not know tore at me and did not stop.
American Standard VersionBut in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: The abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; They did tear me, and ceased not:
Contemporary English VersionI have stumbled, and worthless liars I don't even know surround me and sneer.
English Revised VersionBut when I halted they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
GOD'S WORD® TranslationYet, when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together. They gathered together against me. Unknown attackers tore me apart without stopping.
Good News TranslationBut when I was in trouble, they were all glad and gathered around to make fun of me; strangers beat me and kept striking me.
International Standard VersionBut when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together. They gathered together against me— attackers whom I did not know. They tore me apart and would not stop.
NET BibleBut when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. They tore at me without stopping to rest.
New Heart English BibleBut in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I did not know it. They tore at me, and did not cease.
Webster's Bible TranslationBut in my adversity they rejoiced, and assembled themselves: yes, the abjects assembled themselves against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.
World English BibleBut in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they have rejoiced in my halting, "" And have been gathered together, "" The strikers were gathered against me, "" And I have not known, "" They have torn, and they have not ceased;
Young's Literal Translation And -- in my halting they have rejoiced, And have been gathered together, Gathered against me were the smiters, And I have not known, They have rent, and they have not ceased;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd in my halting they rejoiced, and they were gathered together: they smiting were gathered together against me, and I knew not; they rent asunder and ceased not: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut they rejoiced against me, and came together : scourges were gathered together upon me, and I knew not.
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd they have been joyful against me, and they joined together. Scourges have been gathered over me, and I was ignorant of it.
New American Bible
Yet when I stumbled they gathered with glee, gathered against me and I did not know it. They slandered me without ceasing;
New Revised Standard Version
But at my stumbling they gathered in glee, they gathered together against me; ruffians whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing;Translations from Aramaic Lamsa Bible
During my misery they gathered together and rejoiced; yea, they gathered together against me for a long time, and I knew it not;
Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In my suffering they gathered and rejoiced over me, and they had gathered against me for a long time and I did not know it.OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917
But when I halt they rejoice, and gather themselves together; The abjects gather themselves together against me, and those whom I know not; They tear me, and cease not;
Brenton Septuagint Translation
Yet they rejoiced against me, and plagues were plentifully brought against me, and I knewit not: they were scattered, but repented not.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Contend with My Opponents… 14I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother. 15But when I stumbled,they assembledin glee;they gathered togetheragainst me.AssailantsI did notknowslandered mewithoutceasing.16Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.…
Cross References Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Luke 6:27-28But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
1 Peter 3:9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Matthew 27:39-44And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads / and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” / In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, ...
Mark 15:29-32And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, / come down from the cross and save Yourself!” / In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself! ...
John 15:18-25If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. ...
Acts 7:54-60On hearing this, the members of the Sanhedrin were enraged, and they gnashed their teeth at him. / But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. / “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” ...
2 Timothy 4:14-16Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds. / You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message. / At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
1 Corinthians 4:12-13We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; / when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
Job 16:10They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.
Job 30:1-10“But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to put with my sheep dogs. / What use to me was the strength of their hands, since their vigor had left them? / Gaunt from poverty and hunger, they gnawed the dry land, and the desolate wasteland by night. ...
Lamentations 3:14I am a laughingstock to all my people; they mock me in song all day long.
Jeremiah 18:18Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”
Micah 7:6For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
Treasury of Scripture But in my adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yes, the attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: in mine Psalm 35:25,26
Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up… Psalm 41:8
An evil disease,say they, cleaveth fast unto him: andnow that he lieth he shall rise up no more. Psalm 71:10,11
For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, … adversity [heb. Psalm 38:17
For Iam ready to halt, and my sorrowis continually before me. Jeremiah 20:10
For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report,say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting,saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. 1 Corinthians 13:6
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; the objects Psalm 22:16
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. Psalm 69:12
They that sit in the gate speak against me; and Iwas the song of the drunkards. Job 30:1-12
But nowthey that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock… I knew Psalm 35:8
Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. they Psalm 7:2
Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rendingit in pieces, whilethere is none to deliver. Psalm 57:4
My soulis among lions:and I lieeven among them that are set on fire,even the sons of men, whose teethare spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Job 16:9
He tearethme in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. Jump to Previous AdversityAssembledAttackersCeaseCeasedCeasingCripplesEndGatherGatheredHaltLowPersonsPleasureRejoiceRejoicedSlanderedSmitersTearThemselvesTogetherToreTroubleWoundingJump to Next AdversityAssembledAttackersCeaseCeasedCeasingCripplesEndGatherGatheredHaltLowPersonsPleasureRejoiceRejoicedSlanderedSmitersTearThemselvesTogetherToreTroubleWoundingPsalm 35 1.David prays for his own safety, and his enemies' confusion11.He complains of their wrongful dealing22.Thereby he incites God against themBut when I stumbled, they assembled in glee;This phrase reflects the psalmist's experience of betrayal and mockery. The imagery of stumbling suggests a moment of vulnerability or failure. In ancient Israel, public misfortune was often seen as a sign of divine disfavor, which could lead to social ostracism. The assembly in glee indicates a communal joy at the psalmist's distress, reminiscent of Job's friends who misinterpreted his suffering as a result of sin ( Job 16:10). This reaction contrasts with the biblical call to support and restore those who fall ( Galatians 6:1). they gathered together against me.
The gathering against the psalmist suggests a coordinated effort to harm or discredit him. This can be seen as a form of social persecution, where individuals unite to oppose someone perceived as an enemy. Historically, such gatherings could occur at city gates or public squares, places of judgment and discourse. This aligns with the experiences of other biblical figures like David, who faced conspiracies and betrayal (1 Samuel 18:8-9). It also foreshadows the gathering of religious leaders against Jesus, culminating in His crucifixion (Matthew 26:3-4). Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.
The mention of unknown assailants highlights the psalmist's sense of isolation and the unexpected nature of the attacks. Slander, or false accusations, was a serious offense in biblical times, often leading to social and legal repercussions. The continuous nature of the slander suggests relentless persecution, akin to the persistent accusations faced by Jesus (Mark 14:55-59). This phrase underscores the theme of unjust suffering, a common motif in the Psalms and a foreshadowing of Christ's own experiences of betrayal and false testimony. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe author of the psalm, traditionally believed to be King David, who often faced opposition and betrayal from those around him. 2. Enemies/AssailantsThese are the individuals who gathered against David, rejoicing in his misfortune and attacking him relentlessly. 3. StumblingThis refers to a moment of weakness or difficulty in David's life, which his enemies exploited. 4. Gathering in GleeThis describes the malicious joy and unity of David's adversaries as they sought to harm him. 5. Tearing Without CeasingThis indicates the relentless and vicious nature of the attacks David faced. Teaching Points Recognizing Spiritual WarfareJust as David faced relentless attacks, believers must be aware of the spiritual battles they encounter and rely on God's strength. Responding to BetrayalDavid's experience teaches us to turn to God in prayer and seek His justice when we face betrayal or unjust treatment. Maintaining IntegrityDespite the attacks, David maintained his integrity and trust in God, setting an example for us to follow in times of adversity. Finding Comfort in God's PresenceIn moments of feeling overwhelmed by enemies, we can find solace in God's presence and His promise to never leave us. Praying for Our EnemiesJesus taught us to pray for those who persecute us, transforming our response from one of retaliation to one of grace and forgiveness. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 35
If Psalm 15 is attributed to David, how can a flawed king instruct perfect moral conduct without undermining his own credibility?
Psalm 15:2-3 demands complete truthfulness and no slander; how do we reconcile this with instances of approved deceit (e.g., Rahab in Joshua 2)?
(Psalm 27:2-3) What evidence supports the idea that enemies literally 'stumble and fall,' and how does this align with actual battlefield outcomes?
Is there any historical or archeological evidence supporting the widespread use of the instruments listed in Psalm 150:3-5 at the time it was written?(15) In mine adversity.--Better, at my fall.The abjects . . .--The Hebrew word occurs only here. It is derived from a root meaningto smite,but its form is perplexing. The ancient versions all give it an active sense. LXX. and Vulg. "whips"; Symmachus, "smiters"; Chaldee, "the wicked who smite me with their words," probably a correct paraphrase. The passive, "these smitten," or "objects," is due to R. Kimchi. And I knew it not--i.e., either (1) "unawares," as inPsalm 35:8; (2) "for what reason I knew not"; (3) "whom I knew not"; (4) "and I was innocent." Of these possible explanations (2) is to be preferred. Verse 15. - But in mine adversity they rejoiced,and gathered themselves together; rather, in my fall, or in my halting; "when I halted" (Revised Version). "The word implies a sudden slip and overthrow," such as is represented in 1 Samuel 18:8-29. Yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me. Compare the case of Job ( Job 30:1-14). It is a matter of common experience that when men fall from a high position into misfortune, the base vulgar crowd always turns against them with scoffs and jeers and every sort of contumely. And I knew it not; rather, and I knew them not; men, i.e., of so low a condition, that I had no acquaintance with them (see the margin of the Revised Version). They did tear me, and ceased not (comp. Job 16:9).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew But when I stumbled,וּבְצַלְעִי֮(ū·ḇə·ṣal·‘î)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6761:Limping, stumblingthey assembledוְֽנֶאֱ֫סָ֥פוּ(wə·ne·’ĕ·sā·p̄ū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 622:To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, removein glee;שָׂמְח֪וּ(śā·mə·ḥū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8055:To brighten up, be, blithe, gleesomethey gathered togetherנֶאֶסְפ֬וּ(ne·’es·p̄ū)Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 622:To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, removeagainst me.עָלַ֣י(‘ā·lay)Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstAssailantsנֵ֭כִים(nê·ḵîm)Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 5222:A smiter, traducerI did notוְלֹ֣א(wə·lō)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noknowיָדַ֑עְתִּי(yā·ḏa‘·tî)Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3045:To knowslandered meקָֽרְע֥וּ(qā·rə·‘ū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7167:To rendwithoutוְלֹא־(wə·lō-)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noceasing.דָֽמּוּ׃(ḏām·mū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1826:To be dumb, to be astonished, to stop, to perish
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OT Poetry: Psalm 35:15 But in my adversity they rejoiced (Psalm Ps Psa.) |
