Psalm 35:13

Psalm 35:13, in plain English

David reveals that when these same people were sick, he genuinely cared for them—he wore sackcloth and fasted, mourning for them like family—but his prayers for them went unanswered.

Why it's here

David is painting a picture of his character. He didn't just tolerate these people; he wept for them when they were suffering, humbled himself through fasting and mourning. His goodness was real and costly.

Who's speaking

David, describing his past kindness

Where it sits in the story

This sets up a tension you see throughout Scripture: the righteous often suffer while the wicked prosper. Job's friends accuse him of hidden sin; the psalms repeatedly ask why evil people seem to win. This is one of Scripture's hardest questions.

The scholarly reading

The psalmist recounts how he had humbled himself through fasting and mourning—interceding for his enemies' welfare—yet his prayers remained unanswered and unacknowledged.

Language and setting

The acts of self-mortification—wearing sackcloth (שַׂק, saq), humbling oneself through fasting (צוּם, tzum)—represent conventional practices of supplication and intercession in ancient Israel. The phrase 'my prayers returned unanswered' (תְּפִלָּתִי עַל חֵיקִי תָּשׁוּב, tefillati al cheiqi tashuv) suggests that his petitions for their welfare literally 'returned to his bosom'—rejected, unheard. This represents not merely personal rejection but the agony of intercession that proves ineffectual. The psalmist is essentially saying he prayed for those who would later persecute him.

Voice

The psalmist, narrating his prior compassionate engagement with those who would betray him, emphasizing the gratuitousness of their hostility.

Significance

This motif of intercessory prayer unheard appears elsewhere in Scripture, notably in Jeremiah's prohibition from interceding for the people (Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14), suggesting that certain spiritual wickedness cannot be overcome through intercession. It establishes the principle that one's goodwill cannot inherently constrain another's malice—a sobering insight into human freedom and hostility.

11Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.

12They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.

13Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.

14I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother.

15But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.

Read all of Psalm 35 — David asks God to pick up shield and spear against his enemies. When you can't fight for yourself, you ask the Warrior to fight for you.