ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

Psalms 35.5-6

Book: Psalms · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"3. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that pursue me: Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 4. Let them be put to shame and brought to dishonor that seek after my soul: Let them be turned back and confounded that devise my hurt."

"5. Let them be as chaff before the wind, And the angel of Jehovah driving them on. 6. Let their way be dark and slippery, And the angel of Jehovah pursuing them."

"7. For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit; Without cause have they digged a pit for my soul. 8. Let destruction come upon him unawares; And let his net that he hath hid catch himself: With destruction let him fall therein." (Psalms 35:3-8, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"3. Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.” 4. Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded."

"5. Let them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh’s angel driving them on. 6. Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh’s angel pursuing them."

"7. For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul. 8. Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction." (Psalms 35:3-8, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"3. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. 4. Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt."

"5. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them. 6. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them. dark: Heb. darkness and slipperiness"

"7. For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul. 8. Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall. at: Heb. which he knoweth not of" (Psalms 35:3-8, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"3. And draw out spear and lance, To meet my pursuers. Say to my soul, 'Thy salvation I [am].' 4. They are ashamed and blush, those seeking my soul, Turned backward and confounded, Those devising my evil."

"5. They are as chaff before wind, And a messenger of Jehovah driving away. 6. Their way is darkness and slipperiness, And a messenger of Jehovah their pursuer."

"7. For without cause they hid for me their netpit, Without cause they digged for my soul. 8. Meet him doth desolation, he knoweth not, And his net that he hid catcheth him, For desolation he falleth into it." (Psalms 35:3-8, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: various (David majority; Asaph, Korah, Moses, Solomon, anonymous)
  • Audience: worshipping Israel (corporate + individual devotion)
  • Location: Israel, various periods
  • Time period: composition spans c. 1400 BC (Moses, Ps 90), c. 400 BC; principal Davidic composition c. 1000 BC

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.