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Imprecation
35
The accused sufferer · A psalm of David

Plead my cause, O LORD

28 verses
Common metre 8.6.8.6
BPW 35A · 35B · 35C
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Summary

David asks the LORD to take up his case as an advocate takes a brief, and to take up shield and spear as a soldier does. The psalm moves through three cycles, each running the same course: the wrong described, the judgment asked, and a vow of praise when it comes. What is asked for is exposure and reversal — the pit they dug, the net they hid, closing over the hands that set them.

The wound is that this hatred answers kindness: he had fasted and mourned for these men as for a brother. He does not repay it; he hands it over. Christ takes verse 19 on His own lips in the upper room — they hated Me without a cause — so the psalm is sung after Him, and its vow of thanks in the great congregation is the note it means to end on.

Outline
1–10
First cycle: the advocate and the soldier

Take up my case and my defence; let their own net take them; then my soul shall be joyful in the LORD.

St. 1 · 1–3God asked to contend and to arm
St. 2 · 4–6Chaff before the wind, the angel pursuing
St. 3 · 7–10The hidden net; the vow of praise
11–18
Second cycle: kindness repaid with witness

False witnesses rise; he recalls the fasting and mourning he spent on them, and asks how long God will look on.

St. 4 · 11–14He had mourned for them as for a brother
St. 5 · 15–18Their glee at his stumbling; thanks vowed among much people
19–28
Third cycle: let them not wink over me

The wink of the eye, the wide-open mouth; a plea that God judge according to His righteousness, and that those who love the cause rejoice.

St. 6 · 19–21Deceitful mouths against the peaceable
St. 7 · 22–24Awake, judge me according to thy righteousness
St. 8 · 25–28Shame on the proud, praise all the day long

Stanza divisions provisional — to be conformed to the Book of Psalms for Worship. References NASB.