Psalms 35:4

“Let them be confounded, and put to shame, that seek after my soul, etc.] This petition, and what follows, which seem to be by way of imprecation, are to be considered as prophecies of what would be, and as expressions of faith that so it should be; and are not to be drawn into examples, and to be imitated by private persons; nor are they contrary to those evangelical rules, which require men to love their enemies, and pray for them; to give place to wrath, and not meditate vengeance, nor take it: and so it was with David’s enemies. Saul, who hunted after his soul or life, to take it away, was filled with shame and confusion, when David, having cut off the skirt of his garment, held it up to…”

“(Compare Psa 9:17). devise my hurt--purpose for evil to me.”

“Let them be confounded - That is, Let them, through Thy gracious interposition in my behalf, be so entirely overcome and subdued that they shall be “ashamed” that they ever made the effort to destroy me; let them see so manifestly that God is on my side that they will be covered with confusion for having opposed one who was so entirely the object of the divine protection and care. See Psalms 6:10, note; Psalms 25:2-3, notes. Compare the notes at Job 6:20. That seek after my soul - My life. That seek to destroy me. Let them be turned back - In their attempts to pursue me. Do thou interpose and turn them back. And brought to confusion - Put to shame; or made ashamed - as they are who are…”

“35:4-10 The psalmist longs for the Lord’s salvation. The language seems vindictive, but it arises from a desire for justice and for the Lord to care for the needy and oppressed.”

“confounded: Psa 35:26, Psa 31:17, Psa 31:18, Psa 40:14, Psa 40:15, Psa 70:2, Psa 70:3, Psa 71:24 that: Psa 38:12; Sa1 23:23; Kg1 19:10; Eze 13:19; Mat 27:1 turned: Psa 129:5; Isa 37:29; Jer 46:5; Joh 18:6 Psalms 35:5”

“Throughout the next two strophes follow terrible imprecations. According to Frst and others the relation of בּושׁ and חפר is like that of erblassen, to turn pale (cf. Isa 29:22 with Psa 34:6), and errצthen, to turn red, to blush. בושׁ has, however, no connection with בוץ, nor has חפר, Arab. chfr, chmr, any connection with Arab. hmr, to be red; but, according to its radical notion, בּושׁ means disturbari (vid., Ps 6:11), and חפר, obtegere, abscondere (vid., Psa 34:6). יסּגוּ, properly "let them be made to fall back" (cf. e.g., Isa 42:17). On the figure on Psa 35:5 cf. Psa 83:14. The clauses respecting the Angel of Jahve, Psa 35:5 and Psa 35:6, are circumstantial clauses, viz., clauses…”