Psalms – Chapter 35

Old Testament13 Verses

1Unto the end, for the servant of God, David himself.

2The unjust hath said within himself, that he would sin: there is no fear of God before his eyes.

3For in his sight he hath done deceitfully, that his iniquity may be found unto hatred.

4The words of his mouth are iniquity and guile: he would not understand that he might do well.

5He hath devised iniquity on his bed, he hath set himself on every way that is not good: but evil he hath not hated.

6O Lord, thy mercy is in heaven, and thy truth reacheth even to the clouds.

7Thy justice is as the mountains of God, thy judgments are a great deep. Men and beasts thou wilt preserve, O Lord:

8O how hast thou multiplied thy mercy, O God! But the children of men shall put their trust under the cover of thy wings.

9They shall be inebriated with the plenty of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the torrent of thy pleasure.

10For with thee is the fountain of life; and in thy light we shall see light.

11Extend thy mercy to them that know thee, and thy justice to them that are right in heart.

12Let not the foot of pride come to me, and let not the hand of the sinner move me.

13There the workers of iniquity are fallen, they are cast out, and could not stand.

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Psalms Chapter 35 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. John Chrysostom and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. the Psalms are the prayer book of the Church, prayed daily in the Liturgy of the Hours (CIC 2585-2589). The passage calls believers to grasp that God invites us to bring all our emotions to Him.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 436) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

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