Psalm 35 (KJV): Full Text, Meaning & Prayer
Read Psalm 35 in the King James Version, learn what it means when you feel falsely accused or wronged, and pray a short prayer based on it.
Psalm 35 (King James Version)
1 Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. 2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. 3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. 5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. 6 Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. 7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. 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. 9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. 10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him? 11 False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. 12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. 13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 14 I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. 15 But 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: 16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions. 18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people. 19 Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. 20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. 21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. 22 This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me. 23 Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord. 24 Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. 25 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, 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 hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me. 27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. 28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Psalm 35:1-28, King James Version
A Prayer Based on Psalm 35
Lord, You see what I cannot fix on my own. You see the words said about me, the doors that closed, the quiet unfairness I carry.
Be near me, as You promised. Say to my soul, I am your salvation. Take my side when I have no strength to defend myself, and keep me from answering hurt with hurt.
Guard my heart from bitterness. Let me leave justice in Your hands, and let me keep praying for those who wronged me, as the psalmist once prayed for friends who turned away.
When the night is long, remind me that You are not far. And when the trouble has passed, let my tongue speak of Your righteousness and Your praise all the day long. Amen.
What Psalm 35 Means
Psalm 35 is a psalm of David, a prayer from someone who has been treated unjustly and has nowhere else to turn. It is honest and unpolished. It asks God to act, and it says plainly how much the hurt weighs.
Verses 1-8: a cry for God to take up the case. The psalmist asks the Lord to "plead my cause" and uses the language of a soldier, with shield, buckler and spear. The heart of it is verse 3: "say unto my soul, I am thy salvation." More than victory, he wants to hear God's assurance. The harsh wishes against his enemies in these verses are the raw words of a hurting man, and he hands them to God rather than acting on them himself.
Verses 9-10: joy returns. Even in the middle of trouble, the psalmist already looks ahead to rejoicing. "All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee?" God is the one who rescues the poor and needy from those too strong for them.
Verses 11-16: the pain of betrayal. False witnesses, evil paid back for good. What stings most is that he had grieved and fasted for these same people when they were sick. Many readers recognize this: being hurt most by people you cared for.
Verses 17-25: waiting and asking. "Lord, how long wilt thou look on?" It is allowed to ask how long. He asks God not to keep silence and not to be far away, and he promises to give thanks "in the great congregation."
Verses 26-28: praise. The psalm ends turned toward God, with a promise to speak of His righteousness all day long.
When to pray it: many people turn to Psalm 35 when they are slandered, treated unfairly at work or in the family, or betrayed by someone close. Read it slowly, perhaps one section at a time, and let it give words to what you cannot say. Jesus also taught, in Matthew 5:44, to pray for those who persecute us, so you may want to end by naming the person in prayer and asking God to bless them.
Scripture to Pray With
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 34:4 (KJV)
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22 (KJV)
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 5:44 (KJV)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Psalm 35 about?
Psalm 35 is a prayer of David asking God to defend him against false accusation and betrayal. It moves from a cry for help to a promise of thanksgiving and praise.
Is Psalm 35 a prayer against enemies?
It asks God to defend the psalmist and to bring his enemies to account. Christians read it alongside Jesus' command in Matthew 5:44 to love our enemies and pray for them, handing the matter to God rather than taking revenge.
When should you pray Psalm 35?
It is often prayed when someone feels wrongly accused, slandered or betrayed, and wants to trust God to judge fairly.
What does "plead my cause" mean in Psalm 35:1?
To plead a cause is to argue someone's case in court. The psalmist asks God to act as his advocate and defender.
Who wrote Psalm 35?
The psalm is attributed to David in its title.
Last updated 2026-10-11