Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.
- KJV Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.
- NKJV Let them not rejoice over me who are wrongfully my enemies; Nor let them wink with the eye who hate me without a cause.
- NASB Do not let those who are wrongfully my enemies rejoice over me; Nor let those who hate me for no reason wink maliciously.
- NLT Don’t let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat. Don’t let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow.
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
David prays that his treacherous enemies, who hate him without cause, would not gloat over him.
Overview
David asks God not to let his wrongful enemies triumph or exchange malicious glances at his expense. The phrase 'hate me without a cause' is applied by Jesus to himself (John 15:25). David's experience of causeless hatred thus prefigures the rejection of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Ps 69:4Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.
- John 15:25But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’
- Prov 6:13winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.
- Ps 38:19Many are my enemies without cause, and many hate me without reason.
- Ps 13:4lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes rejoice when I fall.
- Prov 10:10He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.
- Ps 38:16For I said, “Let them not gloat over me—those who taunt me when my foot slips.”
- John 16:20–22Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
- Ps 109:3They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.
- Job 15:12Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
- Lam 3:52Without cause my enemies hunted me like a bird.
- Ps 119:161Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart fears only Your word.
- Ps 35:15But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.
- Rev 11:7–10When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them.
- 1 Sam 24:11–12See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life.
- Ps 25:2in You, my God, I trust. Do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 35:19 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.