Psalm 35:13
◄  Psalm 35:13  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,

New Living Translation (©2007)
Yet when they were ill, I grieved for them. I denied myself by fasting for them, but my prayers returned unanswered.

English Standard Version (©2001)
But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, And my prayer kept returning to my bosom.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Yet when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, and my prayer was genuine.

International Standard Version (©2012)
But when they were sick, I wore sackcloth, humbled myself with fasting, and prayed from my heart repeatedly for them.

NET Bible (©2006)
When they were sick, I wore sackcloth, and refrained from eating food. (If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!)

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And I wore sackcloth in their sicknesses, and my soul was humbled by fasting and my prayer returned to my bosom.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
But when they were sick, I wore sackcloth. I humbled myself with fasting. When my prayer returned unanswered,

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

American King James Version
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

American Standard Version
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted my soul with fasting; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But as for me, when they were troublesome to me, I was clothed with haircloth. I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer shall be turned into my bosom.

Darby Bible Translation
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I chastened my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine own bosom:

English Revised Version
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.

Webster's Bible Translation
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
And I -- in their sickness my clothing is sackcloth, I have humbled with fastings my soul, And my prayer unto my bosom returneth.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

35:11-16 Call a man ungrateful, and you can call him no worse: this was the character of David's enemies. Herein he was a type of Christ. David shows how tenderly he had behaved towards them in afflictions. We ought to mourn for the sins of those who do not mourn for themselves. We shall not lose by the good offices we do to any, how ungrateful soever they may be. Let us learn to possess our souls in patience and meekness like David, or rather after Christ's example.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. It is suggested that David had acted thus, especially in the case of Saul, when he was first afflicted with his terrible malady (1 Samuel 16:14-23; 1 Samuel 18:10); but he appears to speak of his habitual practice, whenever any of his friends were sick. (On the putting on of sackcloth as a sign of grief, see Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31; 2 Samuel 21:10; 1 Kings 21:27; 2 Kings 6:30; 2 Kings 19:1; Esther 4:1; Job 16:15; Psalm 69:11; Psalm 69:11, etc.) I humbled my soul with fasting. Another customary indication of grief (see Psalm 69:10; Psalm 109:24; Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 1:12; 2 Samuel 22:16; 1 Kings 21:27; Nehemiah 1:4, etc.). And my prayer returned into mine own bosom (comp. Matthew 10:13). Prayers for others, if prevented by their unworthiness from benefiting them, are yet not altogether void and vain. They bring a blessing to the man that offers them.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But as for me, when they were sick,.... Or under any disorder or distress of body or mind, when any misfortune or infirmity attended them; meaning Saul and his courtiers, before David was persecuted by them;

my clothing was sackcloth; that is, he was grieved, and mourned for them, it being usual to put on sackcloth in time of mourning; see Genesis 37:34;

I humbled my soul with fasting; on the account of them, giving up himself to prayer for them, as follows:

and my prayer returned into mine own bosom; that is, he prayed privately and heartily for them, as for himself; he was constant in it, his heart was in it, and he took delight in it, and he was heard and answered; unless the sense should be, that his prayer was slighted by them, and so returned back to himself, as a present despised is returned; but however it was not without its effect, the good for which he prayed for them was returned by the Lord unto him.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

13. prayer … bosom—may denote either the posture—the head bowed—(compare 1Ki 18:42)—or, that the prayer was in secret. Some think there is a reference to the result—the prayer would benefit him if not them.

Psalm 35:13 Parallel Commentaries

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Contend with those who Contend with Me
…12They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. 13But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom. 14I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns for his mother. …

Matthew 10:13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you.
Luke 10:6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.
Job 30:25 Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
Psalm 69:10 When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn;
Psalm 69:11 when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me.
Psalm 79:12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
Psalm 109:24 My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt.