But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
Parallel translations
- WEB But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
- BSB Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.
- NKJV But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart.
- NASB But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, But my prayer kept returning to me.
- NLT Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When his enemies were sick, David humbled himself with sackcloth, fasting, and prayer for them.
Overview
David recalls his genuine compassion toward those now opposing him, mourning and praying during their illness. His kindness underscores the injustice of their later hostility. Such love for those who would become enemies anticipates Christ, who prayed for those who wronged him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Ps 69:10–11When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
- Job 30:25Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?
- Matt 5:44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- Lev 16:31It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.
- Isa 58:5Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
- Matt 10:13And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
- Rom 12:14–15Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
- Luke 10:6And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
- Lev 16:29And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:
- 1 Kgs 21:27–29And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
- Isa 58:3Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
- Matt 9:14–15Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 35:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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