Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
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 I fasted, that was to my reproach.
- Job 30:25Didn’t I weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn’t my soul grieved for the needy?
- Matt 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
- Lev 16:31It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.
- Isa 58:5Is this the fast that I have chosen? A day for a man to humble his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under himself? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yahweh?
- Matt 10:13If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn’t worthy, let your peace return to you.
- Rom 12:14–15Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.
- Luke 10:6If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
- Lev 16:29“It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no kind of work, the native-born, or the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you:
- 1 Kgs 21:27–29When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
- Isa 58:3‘Why have we fasted,’ say they, ‘and you don’t see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you don’t notice?’ “Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and oppress all your laborers.
- Matt 9:14–15Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”
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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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