Mazmur 35:25-28

35:25 Do not let them say to themselves, ¹  “Aha! We have what we wanted!” ² 

Do not let them say, “We have devoured him!”

35:26 May those who want to harm me be totally embarrassed and ashamed! ³ 

May those who arrogantly taunt me be covered with shame and humiliation! ⁴ 

35:27 May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice!

May they continually say, ⁵  “May the Lord be praised, ⁶  for he wants his servant to be secure.” ⁷ 

35:28 Then I will tell others about your justice, ⁸ 

and praise you all day long. ⁹ 

[35:25]  ¹ tn Heb “in their heart[s].”

[35:25]  ² tn Heb “Aha! Our desire!” The “desire” of the psalmist’s enemies is to triumph over him.

[35:26]  ³ tn Heb “may they be embarrassed and ashamed together, the ones who rejoice over my harm.”

[35:26]  ⁴ tn Heb “may they be clothed with shame and humiliation, the ones who magnify [themselves] against me.” The prefixed verbal forms in v. 26 are understood as jussives (see vv. 24b-25, where the negative particle אַל (’al) appears before the prefixed verbal forms, indicating they are jussives). The psalmist is calling down judgment on his enemies.

[35:27]  ⁵ tn The prefixed verbal forms in v. 27a are understood as jussives (see vv. 24b-26).

[35:27]  ⁶ tn The prefixed verbal form is taken as a jussive, “may the Lord be magnified [in praise].” Another option is to take the verb as an imperfect, “the Lord is great.”

[35:27]  ⁷ tn Heb “the one who desires the peace of his servant.”

[35:28]  ⁸ tn Heb “and my tongue will proclaim your justice.”

[35:28]  ⁹ tn Heb “all the day your praise.” The verb “proclaim” is understood by ellipsis in the second line (see the previous line).