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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 35
David complains of his enemies and their wrong dealings—He asks the
Lord to judge him according to his righteousness.
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A Psalm of David
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1 aPLEAD my
cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: bfight
against them that fight against
mea.
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.
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1a that fight against me
Perhaps not a noteable flaw in and of it self, as David was king of and the
representative of Israel, but contrast David's attitude toward his 'enemies'
with that of some of the Book of Mormon prophets. King David envoked the Lord
against his enemies to their destruction while pleading with the Lord to deal
mercifully with hisself. It is somewhat an 'I' or 'me' attitude when the
other guy is to always suffer the rath of God while one's self is always to
be blessed and forgiven of the Lord. The Book of Mormon prophets often prayed
not only for themselves and their own people but they also prayed for the
benefit of their enemies that they would be blessed and brought unto God as
well (the prayer of Enoe for example in the book of Enos).
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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 apersecute them.
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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
ajoyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his
bsalvation.
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10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is
like unto thee, which adeliverest the
bpoor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?
11 aFalse witnesses did rise
up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
12 They arewarded me evil
for good to the spoiling of my soul.
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13 But as for me, when they were
asick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul
with bfasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
14 I behaved myself as though he had been
my friend or abrother: I bowed down heavily, as
one that mourneth for his mother.
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15 But in mine aadversity
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
amockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their
teeth.
17 Lord, how along wilt thou
look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my
bdarling from the lions.
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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
ahate me without a cause.
20 For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.
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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
aawake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God
and my Lord.
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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.
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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 apleasure in the prosperity of his
servant.
28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
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