TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
Complete Jewish Bible
But may those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad! Let them say always, "How great is ADONAI, who delights in the peace of his servant!"
Berean Standard Bible
May those who favor my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “Exalted be the LORD who delights in His servant’s well-being.”
American Standard Version
Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: Yea, let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified, Who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
World English Bible Messianic
Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, “The LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!”
Geneva Bible (1599)
But let them be ioyful and glad, that loue my righteousnesse: yea, let them say alway, Let the Lord be magnified, which loueth the prosperitie of his seruant.
Young's Literal Translation
They sing and rejoice, who are desiring my righteousness, And they say continually, `Jehovah is magnified, Who is desiring the peace of His servant.'
In the KJVVerse 14,438 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Psalms 35 verses 17–28
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.
In these verses, as before,
I. David describes the great injustice, malice, and insolence, of his persecutors, pleading this with God as a reason why he should protect him from them and appear against them. 1. They were very unrighteous; they were his enemies wrongfully, for he never gave them any provocation: They hated him without a cause; nay, for that for which they ought rather to have loved and honoured him. This is quoted, with application to Christ, and is said to be fulfilled in him. Joh 15:25, They hated me without cause. 2. They were very rude; they could not find in their hearts to show him common civility: They speak not peace; if they met him, they had not the good manners to give him the time of day; like Joseph's brethren, that could not speak peaceably to him, Gen 37:4. 3. They were very proud and scornful (Psa 35:21): They opened their mouth wide against me; they shouted and huzzaed when they saw his fall; they bawled after him when he was forced to quit the court, "Aha! aha! this is the day we longed to see." 4. They were very barbarous and base, for they trampled upon him when he was down, rejoiced at his hurt, and magnified themselves against him, Psa 35:26. Turba Remi sequitur fortunam, ut semper, et odit damnatos - The Roman crowd, varying their opinions with every turn of fortune, are sure to execrate the fallen. Thus, when the Son of David was run upon by the rulers, the people cried, Crucify him, crucify him. 5. They set themselves against all the sober good people that adhered to David (Psa 35:20): They devised deceitful matters, to trepan and ruin those that were quiet in the land. Note, (1.) It is the character of the godly in the land that they are the quiet in the land, that they live in all dutiful subjection to government and governors, in the Lord, and endeavour, as much as in them lies, to live peaceably with all men, however they may have been misrepresented as enemies to Caesar and hurtful to kings and provinces. I am for peace, Psa 120:7. (2.) Though the people of God are, and study to be, a quiet people, yet it has been the common practice of their enemies to devise deceitful matters against them. All the hellish arts of malice and falsehood are made use of to render them odious or despicable; their words and actions are misconstrued, even that which they abhor is fathered upon them, laws are made to ensnare them (Dan 6:4, etc.), and all to ruin them and root them out. Those that hated David thought scorn, like Haman, to lay hands on him alone, but contrived to involve all the religious people of the land in the same ruin with him.
II. He appeals to God against them, the God to whom vengeance belongs, appeals to his knowledge (Psa 35:22): This thou hast seen. They had falsely accused him, but God, who knows all things, knew that he did not falsely accuse them, nor make them worse than really they were. They had carried on their plots against him with a great degree of secresy (Psa 35:15): "I knew it not, till long after, when they themselves gloried in it; but thy eye was upon them in their close cabals and thou art a witness of all they have said and done against me and thy people." He appeals to God's justice: Awake to my judgment, even to my cause, and let it have a hearing at thy bar, Psa 35:23. "Judge me, O Lord my God! pass sentence upon this appeal, according to the righteousness of thy nature and government," Psa 35:24. See this explained by Solomon, Kg1 7:31, Kg1 7:32. When thou art appealed to, hear in heaven, and judge, by condemning the wicked and justifying the righteous.
III. He prays earnestly to God to appear graciously for him and his friends, against his and their enemies, that by his providence the struggle might issue to the honour and comfort of David and to the conviction and confusion of his persecutors. 1. He prays that God would act for him, and not stand by as a spectator (Psa 35:17): "Lord, how long wilt thou look on? How long wilt thou connive at the wickedness of the wicked? Rescue my soul from the destructions they are plotting against it; rescue my darling, my only one, from the lions. My soul is my only one, and therefore the greater is the shame if I neglect it and the greater the loss if I lose it: it is my only one, and therefore ought to be my darling, ought to be carefully protected and provided for. It is my soul that is in danger; Lord, rescue it. It does, in a peculiar manner, belong to the Father of spirits, therefore claim thy own; it is thine, save it. Lord, keep not silence, as if thou didst consent to what is done against me! Lord, be not far from me (Psa 35:22), as if I were a stranger that thou wert not concerned for; let not me beheld afar off, as the proud are." 2. He prays that his enemies might not have cause to rejoice (Psa 35:19): Let them not rejoice over me (and again, Psa 35:24); not so much because it would be a mortification to him to be trampled upon the abjects, as because it would turn to the dishonour of God and the reproach of his confidence in God. It would harden the hearts of his enemies in their wickedness and confirm them in their enmity to him, and would be a great discouragement to all the pious Jews that were friends to his righteous cause. He prays that he might never be in such imminent danger as that they should say in their hearts, Ah! so would we have it (Psa 35:25), much more that he might not be reduced to such extremity that they should say, We have swallowed him up; for then they will reflect upon God himself. But, on the contrary, that they might be ashamed and brought to confusion together (Psa 35:26, as before, Psa 35:4); he desires that his innocency might be so cleared that they might be ashamed of the calumnies with which they had loaded him, that his interest might be so confirmed that they might be ashamed of their designs against him and their expectations of his ruin, that they might either be brought to that shame which would be a step towards their reformation or that that might be their portion which would be their everlasting misery. 3. He prays that his friends might have cause to rejoice and give glory to God, Psa 35:27. Notwithstanding the arts that were used to blacken David, and make him odious, and to frighten people from owning him, there were some that favoured his righteous cause, that knew he was wronged and bore a good affection to him; and he prays for them, (1.) That they might rejoice with him in his joys. It is a great pleasure to all that are good to see an honest man, and an honest cause, prevail and prosper; and those that heartily espouse the interests of God's people, and are willing to take their lot with them even when they are run down and trampled upon, shall in due time shout for joy and be glad, for the righteous cause will at length be a victorious cause. (2.) That they might join with him in his praises: Let them say continually, The Lord be magnified, by us and others, who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. Note, [1.] The great God has pleasure in this prosperity of good people, not only of his family, the church in general, but of every particular servant in his family. He has pleasure in the prosperity both of their temporal and of their spiritual affairs, and delights not in their griefs; for he does not afflict willingly; and we ought therefore to have pleasure in their prosperity, and not to envy it. [2.] When God in his providence shows his good-will to the prosperity of his servants, and the pleasure he takes in it, we ought to acknowledge it with thankfulness, to his praise, and to say, The Lord be magnified.
IV. The mercy he hoped to win by prayer he promises to wear with praise: "I will give thee thanks, as the author of my deliverance (Psa 35:18), and my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness, the justice of thy judgments and the equity of all thy dispensations;" and this, 1. Publicly, as one that took a pleasure in owning his obligations to his God, so far was he from being ashamed of them. he will do it in the great congregation, and among much people, that God might be honoured and many edified. 2. Constantly. he will speak God's praise every day (so it may be read) and all the day long; for it is a subject that will never be exhausted, no, not by the endless praises of saints and angels.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 17–28. Public domain.
Copy as
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 35
What do you say now, the Head with the Members? "Let them shout for joy and be glad that favour My righteous cause:" who cleave to My Body. Yea, let them say "continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 35
What do you say now, the Head with the Members? "Let them shout for joy and be glad that favour My righteous cause:" who cleave to My Body. Yea, let them say "continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant" [Psalm 35:27]. "And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness, and of Your praise all the day long" [Psalm 35:28]. And whose tongue endures to speak the praise of God all the day long? See now I have made a discourse something longer; you are wearied. Who endures to praise God all the day long? I will suggest a remedy, whereby you may praise God all the day long if you will. Whatever you do, do well, and you have praised God. When you sing an hymn, you praise God, but what does your tongue, unless your heart also praise Him? Have you ceased from singing hymns, and departed, that you may refresh yourself? Be not drunken, and you have praised God. Do you go away to sleep? Rise not to do evil, and you have praised God. Do you transact business? Do no wrong, and you have praised God. Do you till your field? Raise not strife, and you have praised God. In the innocency of your works prepare yourself to praise God all the day long.
CassiodorusAD 585
EXPLANATION OF THE PSALMS 35:27
Persecutors are accustomed to say “well done, well done, for our soul,” because theirs is a joy for this life and a pleasure that does not last. But the blessed say “May the Lord always be exalted,” which is eternal and enduring.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Psalms 35:27 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
This verse from Psalm 35 articulates a confident expectation of divine vindication and a compelling call to joyous, continuous praise for God's character and actions. It anticipates the exuberant celebration of those who align with God's justice, culminating in the perpetual magnification of the Lord, who finds deep delight in the holistic well-being and flourishing of His faithful servants.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalm 35 is a profound individual lament, a heartfelt prayer from David appealing to God for deliverance from malicious and unjust enemies. The psalm opens with an urgent plea for divine intervention, asking God to "contend with those who contend with me" and "fight against those who fight against me" (Psalms 35:1). David vividly describes the treachery and ingratitude of his foes, who repay good with evil and plot his downfall despite his past intercession for them (Psalms 35:11-16). Verses 17-26 continue the fervent cry for God to act, to awaken and judge his adversaries. Verse 27 marks a pivotal shift from the deep anguish of lament and petition to a confident declaration of future vindication and a vision of the righteous response to God's anticipated deliverance. It projects forward to a time when God's justice will be undeniably evident, prompting overflowing joy and perpetual praise from those who support David's righteous cause.
Historical & Cultural Context: David, as King of Israel, frequently encountered internal and external opposition throughout his reign. While the specific historical context for Psalm 35 is not explicitly stated, it resonates with periods of intense persecution, such as Saul's relentless pursuit, Absalom's rebellion, or other instances of betrayal by those he had served. In ancient Near Eastern societies, a "cause" (Hebrew: mishpat) was often brought before a judge or king for arbitration, implying a legal or judicial dispute. David's plea for his "righteous cause" to be favored is a direct appeal for God, the ultimate judge, to intervene and declare him innocent, upholding justice against false accusations and malicious intent. The public "shouting for joy" and "magnifying the Lord" were customary expressions of communal celebration and worship following a significant victory or divine deliverance, often involving processions or temple rituals that affirmed God's sovereignty and faithfulness.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 35 and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it underscores the theme of Divine Vindication and Justice. David's "righteous cause" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) is not merely a personal desire for victory but an appeal for God to uphold what is right and just, reflecting God's own character as a righteous judge who "executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed" (Psalms 103:6). Secondly, the call to "shout for joy, and be glad" highlights the theme of Joyful Praise and Worship as the natural and exuberant response to God's intervention and deliverance. This communal celebration is a hallmark of the Psalms, reflecting the profound joy of God's people in His salvation, as seen in David's invitation to "magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together" (Psalms 34:3). Finally, the profound statement that God "hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant" introduces the theme of God's Delight in His People's Holistic Well-being. This "prosperity" (שָׁלוֹם, shalom) encompasses peace, wholeness, welfare, and flourishing in all aspects of life, demonstrating God's desire for His faithful followers to thrive, not just survive, in their walk with Him, echoing His covenant promises of blessing and abundant life, as He declares His plans for "peace, and not for evil, to give you an expected end" (Jeremiah 29:11).
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 35:27 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message with depth and impact. The primary device is the Imperative Mood, seen in "Let them shout for joy," "be glad," and "let them say continually." This grammatical construction functions as both a fervent prayer and a confident prophetic declaration of what will happen when God acts, imbuing the verse with a sense of certainty and anticipation. Hyperbole is subtly present in the phrase "say continually," suggesting a ceaseless, unending praise that reflects the overwhelming magnitude of God's anticipated deliverance and the eternal nature of His glory. The verse also utilizes Metonymy where "righteous cause" stands for the person whose cause is righteous, indicating David himself and his just standing before God. Finally, the entire verse functions as a form of Anticipatory Praise, where the psalmist praises God for a deliverance that has not yet fully materialized, demonstrating profound faith and unwavering trust in God's future intervention.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully articulates God's character as a righteous judge who finds deep delight in the well-being of His faithful. It inextricably links the vindication of the righteous with the magnification of God, demonstrating that divine justice ultimately serves to glorify God's name and reveal His nature. The profound concept of God having "pleasure in the prosperity of his servant" reveals a deeply relational and benevolent God who is not only concerned with upholding justice but also with the holistic flourishing of those who serve Him. This prosperity, or shalom, is a comprehensive state of peace, completeness, and well-being that reflects God's covenant faithfulness and His desire for His people to thrive in every dimension of their lives. It assures believers that their struggles are seen, their cause is just in God's eyes, and their ultimate flourishing brings joy to the very heart of God, testifying to His goodness and power.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 35:27 offers profound encouragement and a clear call to action for believers facing adversity. When we find ourselves unjustly accused, slandered, or opposed for standing for what is right, this verse reminds us that God sees our "righteous cause." It encourages us to bring our pleas before Him with unwavering confidence, knowing that He is a righteous judge who delights in vindicating His servants. Our response to His anticipated or actual deliverance should be one of overflowing joy and continuous praise, not merely for our own relief, but primarily for the magnification of His holy name. Furthermore, the assurance that God "hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant" transforms our understanding of His meticulous care. It tells us that God desires our holistic well-being—our shalom—in every area of life: spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical. This deeply comforting truth should motivate us to live faithfully and trustingly, knowing that our flourishing is not just a personal gain, but a source of delight to our Heavenly Father, and ultimately, a powerful testimony to His goodness, faithfulness, and sovereign care.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "righteous cause" mean in the context of this verse?
Answer: In Psalms 35:27, "righteous cause" (Hebrew: tsedeq) refers to a legal or moral case that is just, right, and defensible in the eyes of God. It signifies David's plea for divine justice against false accusations and malicious adversaries. It's not merely a personal desire for victory, but an appeal for God to uphold what is morally correct and to vindicate his innocence, aligning with God's own character as a righteous judge. It implies that David's position is consistent with God's truth and justice, and therefore worthy of divine intervention and favor.
Does "prosperity" in this verse refer only to material wealth?
Answer: No, the Hebrew word for "prosperity" here is shalom, which is a much broader and richer concept than mere material wealth. Shalom encompasses peace, completeness, wholeness, welfare, and flourishing in all aspects of life—spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational. It signifies a state where nothing is missing or broken, a holistic well-being that reflects God's desire for His people to thrive in every dimension. While it can include material blessings, its primary meaning is comprehensive flourishing and peace, as beautifully illustrated in God's promise to Israel in Jeremiah 29:11.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 35:27 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant of the Lord whose "righteous cause" was perfectly just and eternally vindicated. While David's plea was for personal deliverance, Christ, the true and greater David, endured the ultimate injustice, being falsely accused, condemned, and crucified despite His perfect righteousness and sinlessness (Isaiah 53:9). His "cause" was not merely His own vindication but the redemption of humanity, a cause that God the Father delighted in. The resurrection of Jesus is the supreme demonstration of God's "pleasure in the prosperity of his servant," as Christ was raised from the dead, exalted to the right hand of God, and given "all authority in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). Through His finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection, believers are now invited to share in His prosperity—not just material wealth, but the comprehensive shalom of God: peace with God (Romans 5:1), spiritual wholeness, and eternal life. Our joy and continuous magnification of the Lord are now rooted in the historical reality of Christ's triumph over sin and death, for He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), and through Him, we receive the abundance of life (John 10:10). The Father's profound pleasure in His Son's perfect obedience and ultimate sacrifice is the foundational truth for our own hope of flourishing and eternal joy.