TRV
Translation
King James Version
And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Complete Jewish Bible
Then my tongue will tell of your righteousness and praise you all day long.
Berean Standard Bible
Then my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness and Your praises all day long.
American Standard Version
And my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness Andof thy praise all the day long.
World English Bible Messianic
My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.
In the KJVVerse 14,439 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.
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Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 35
"And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness, and of Your praise all the day long." 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.
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.
Theodoret of CyrusAD 458
COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS 35:13
While the psalm had this ending, therefore, I beseech those reading it not to incur even the slightest harm from the prayer of the righteous person or make it the occasion for curses against one’s enemies. Instead, realize that the inspired author was adopting the way of life sanctioned by the Law, not by the Gospels. Now, the Law speaks plainly of loving the neighbor and hating the enemy. By contrast, Christ the Lord, to show virtue in its perfection, said, “It was said to those of old, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say to you. Love your enemies and bless those who persecute you.” The divine apostle also said something in harmony with this, “Bless and do not curse.” Looking at this difference, therefore, realize what is in keeping with the Law and what with grace. In particular, it was not to deliver a curse that David said this; rather, in inspired fashion he foretold what would clearly come to be. Now, for proof that in keeping with the gospel requirements even he did not take vengeance on those who wronged him, listen to him saying, “If I repaid in like fashion those rendering me evil, let me then end up empty-handed before my foes. Let my foe then hunt my soul down, apprehend it, trample my life in the ground and bury my glory in the dust.” And he did not say this without doing it: he put his words into practice, and the actions are clearer than the words. Twice when he had his enemy in his hands, remember, he not only did not do away with him; … when he fell in battle, he wept bitterly over him, and the one who brought word of his death he dispatched for exulting and boasting of the execution. Now, I was obliged to recount these events because of those who boast and quote the case of the divine David so that they may have the best values of David as a beneficial model.
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.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 35:28 concludes a fervent lament with a powerful vow of perpetual praise, articulating David's confident anticipation of divine vindication. Following his impassioned plea for God's intervention against treacherous adversaries, this verse transforms his cry for justice into an enduring commitment. Upon receiving God's righteous deliverance, David pledges his tongue to a continuous, public declaration of God's perfect character, His just acts, and His profound worthiness, thereby establishing an unending testimony of thanksgiving and adoration that transcends his immediate circumstances.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalms 35 is a deeply personal psalm of lament and imprecation, where David pours out his heart to God for deliverance from malicious enemies. The psalm opens with an urgent appeal for God to "contend with those who contend with me" and "fight against those who fight against me," as seen in Psalms 35:1. Throughout the preceding verses, David vividly details the treachery and malice of his adversaries, who repay his good with evil, mock his distress, and relentlessly plot his downfall, as exemplified in Psalms 35:7-8. He contrasts their unrighteousness with his own innocent suffering, appealing directly to God's justice. The psalm progresses through stages of intense petition, imprecation against his foes, and expressions of profound confidence in God's ultimate intervention. This climactic verse, Psalms 35:28, serves as a culminating vow of praise, anticipating God's righteous intervention and David's subsequent, unending response of worship. This structure is characteristic of many lament psalms, which often conclude with a pivot from complaint to confident trust and a commitment to praise, demonstrating a profound shift in the psalmist's spiritual posture.
Historical & Cultural Context: While the specific historical context for Psalms 35 is not explicitly stated, it is traditionally attributed to David, likely reflecting periods of intense persecution from figures such as King Saul or, later, his own son Absalom. The language of "enemies" and "those who plot evil" (e.g., Psalms 35:4) resonates deeply with David's life as a man constantly facing betrayal and opposition, often from within his own people or court. In ancient Israel, justice was inextricably linked to God's character and His covenant. When an individual was wronged, especially by those who should have been allies, the primary recourse was to appeal to God, who was understood as the ultimate judge and vindicator. Public praise and testimony, as promised in this verse, were not merely private expressions but communal acts, reinforcing God's sovereignty and faithfulness within the community and serving as a powerful witness to both believers and unbelievers. The "tongue" as an instrument of public declaration was profoundly significant in a culture where oral tradition, public assemblies, and communal worship were central to religious and social life.
Key Themes: Psalms 35:28 encapsulates several major themes prevalent throughout the Psalter and the broader biblical narrative. The foremost theme is Divine Vindication and Righteousness. David's praise is a direct and anticipated response to God's righteous acts of deliverance, underscoring God's moral perfection and His unwavering commitment to upholding justice for the oppressed, a truth echoed in passages like Psalms 145:7. Another crucial theme is Continuous Praise and Worship. The powerful phrase "all the day long" emphasizes the unending, persistent, and pervasive nature of David's promised devotion, reflecting a deep-seated and enduring trust in God that transcends fleeting moments of gratitude. This commitment to perpetual worship is a hallmark of a life lived in covenant with God, as seen in Psalms 34:1. Finally, the verse highlights Public Testimony and Proclamation. David's "tongue shall speak" implies a vocal, public declaration of God's goodness, not merely an internal sentiment. This outward expression serves to glorify God and to bear witness to His mighty acts, potentially influencing his adversaries or encouraging fellow believers, echoing the call to declare God's works among the nations found in Psalms 96:3.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 35:28 employs several powerful literary devices to amplify its message of perpetual praise. Synecdoche is prominently featured in "my tongue," where a part (the tongue) stands for the whole person's vocal expression and commitment. This device powerfully emphasizes the active, verbal, and public nature of the promised praise, indicating that David's entire being is committed to this declaration. The phrase "all the day long" is an example of Hyperbole, used not to imply literal 24-hour, non-stop speaking, but to convey the idea of continuous, unceasing, and pervasive praise that permeates every waking moment and extends throughout one's life. This hyperbole underscores the depth, sincerity, and permanence of David's commitment to God. The parallelism between "thy righteousness" and "thy praise" exhibits Synonymous Parallelism, where two phrases express similar or complementary ideas, reinforcing the holistic nature of God's character and the appropriate, comprehensive response of worship. David's vow itself is a profound form of Anticipatory Praise, where he commits to future praise based on his present confidence in God's future deliverance. This transforms a lament into a declaration of unwavering faith, demonstrating trust in God's character even before the full manifestation of His intervention.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 35:28 serves as a profound theological statement on the appropriate response to God's character and redemptive acts. It underscores that true worship is not merely an emotional outburst but a reasoned and continuous declaration rooted in God's righteousness and faithfulness. David's vow teaches that our praise is intimately linked to God's justice; when God acts righteously on our behalf, our natural and commanded response is to proclaim His goodness. This perpetual praise transforms a life of suffering and petition into one of enduring testimony, demonstrating that faith anticipates God's vindication and commits to glorifying Him regardless of the immediate circumstances. It highlights the reciprocal relationship between God's saving work and humanity's grateful adoration, establishing a model for believers to cultivate a lifestyle of continuous worship that flows from an understanding of God's just and merciful nature, acknowledging His sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His people.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 35:28 offers a timeless blueprint for the believer's response to God's faithfulness, particularly in times of trial and waiting. It challenges us to cultivate a posture of anticipatory praise, where our commitment to glorify God is not contingent upon immediate relief but rooted in the unwavering confidence of His righteous character. When we face injustice, opposition, or prolonged suffering, this verse calls us to move beyond mere petition to a vow of continuous, public testimony. Our "tongue" is to be an instrument of God's praise, declaring His righteousness and goodness "all the day long," not just in moments of triumph but as a consistent lifestyle. This transforms our personal struggles into opportunities for corporate witness, demonstrating to a watching world that our God is just, faithful, and worthy of unending adoration. It reminds us that even before the full manifestation of God's deliverance, our faith can express itself in a confident commitment to praise, knowing that His righteousness will ultimately prevail and that His character is eternally worthy of our unceasing devotion.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "righteousness" mean in the context of Psalms 35:28?
Answer: In this context, "righteousness" (Hebrew: tzedeq) refers to God's inherent character of justice, moral integrity, and faithfulness. Crucially, it also encompasses His active intervention to establish justice on behalf of the oppressed. It signifies God's saving acts, His fidelity to His covenant, and His consistent alignment with His own holy standards. David's praise of God's "righteousness" here is a recognition of God's just nature and His anticipated saving action in delivering him from his enemies, as seen in other psalms that speak of God's righteous judgments, such as Psalms 9:8.
Why does David promise to speak of God's praise "all the day long"?
Answer: The phrase "all the day long" emphasizes the continuous, persistent, and unending nature of David's promised devotion. It signifies that his praise will not be a fleeting moment of gratitude but a commitment to a lifestyle of worship, reflecting a deep-seated and enduring trust in God's faithfulness. It suggests that God's goodness and righteous acts will be a constant theme in David's life and speech, permeating every moment and circumstance, much like the call in Psalms 145:2 to bless the Lord "every day." This commitment demonstrates a profound and unwavering devotion.
Is this verse only relevant for someone experiencing persecution like David?
Answer: While the immediate context is David's plea for deliverance from enemies, the principles in Psalms 35:28 are universally applicable to all believers. It models a foundational posture of faith and worship. Every believer experiences challenges, injustices, or moments of waiting for God's intervention. This verse teaches us to cultivate anticipatory praise, to declare God's righteousness and goodness even before our circumstances change, and to make praise a continuous part of our lives, acknowledging God's character regardless of our immediate situation. It encourages a lifestyle of gratitude and trust, which is a core tenet of Christian living, as exhorted in 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 35:28 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, the perfectly righteous sufferer who was ultimately vindicated by God. David's experience of unjust persecution and his vow to praise God's righteousness "all the day long" powerfully foreshadows Christ, who endured the ultimate injustice on the cross, yet remained perfectly righteous and without sin, fulfilling the prophetic words of Isaiah 53:9. The "righteousness" David speaks of is most fully revealed in God's glorious act of justifying sinners through Christ's atoning sacrifice, demonstrating that God is both "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:26). Jesus, as the perfect Lamb of God, did not merely speak of God's righteousness but embodied it in His life, death, and resurrection. His resurrection was the supreme vindication of His life and mission, leading to eternal praise and worship from all creation, as prophesied in Revelation 5:13. Furthermore, as believers, we are now called to be imitators of Christ, our tongues empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit to continually speak of God's righteousness and praise, not only for our personal deliverance but for the cosmic deliverance accomplished through the cross and resurrection. Our continuous praise becomes a participation in the eternal worship of God, anticipating the day when every tongue will confess that "Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11).