Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just describe enemies being shamed; it uses the powerful imagery of them being "clothed" with it. This isn't just a fleeting feeling of embarrassment, but a complete, pervasive covering that defines their identity in the end, highlighting how God's justice will fully expose and shame those who arrogantly oppose His people.
Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is crying out to God for justice against enemies who not only oppose him but actively delight in his suffering. He describes them as rejoicing in his misfortune and boasting against him, and this verse is his passionate plea for them to be utterly shamed and dishonored instead. The psalm closes with a hopeful vision of righteousness prevailing and God being magnified by those who favor David.
Ever felt like people are secretly (or not so secretly) cheering for your downfall? This verse dives into that painful reality.
In Psalm 35:26, David describes his enemies' cruel delight in his suffering and their arrogant boasting against him. He prays that their rejoicing would turn to shame and their pride to dishonor.
The Heart of the Enemy
David identifies two key attitudes of his adversaries:
A Prayer for Divine Justice
David's response isn't passive resignation. He cries out to God, asking for these malicious attitudes to be met with a fitting consequence: shame and dishonor. It’s a prayer that God’s justice would be revealed, not out of personal vengeance, but because God himself stands for righteousness and hates pride and cruelty.
When the world seems against you, where does true security lie? This psalm points to a steadfast anchor.
Psalm 35:26 isn't just about the enemies' fate; it's deeply connected to David's appeal to God's righteousness. While David prays for his enemies' shame, the underlying foundation for this prayer is his trust in God's character.
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Appealing to Divine Justice
David isn't just venting. He's appealing to God, the ultimate Judge. The commentators highlight that David asks God to 'Judge me... according to thy righteousness' (Psalm 35:24). This means he's asking God to act in accordance with His own just and holy nature.
The Assurance of God's Favor
Because God is righteous, He cannot ultimately let the malicious and proud triumph over the innocent. David's confidence rests on God's character. The shame and dishonor he prays for his enemies is the natural consequence of their opposition to God's own righteousness. It’s a divine balancing, where God’s justice ensures that those who delight in wickedness will ultimately face exposure.
Understand the original words
bosh · Hebrew Verb
To be put to shame implies experiencing a sense of confusion, disappointment, or humiliation, often resulting from the failure of one's wicked plans or a false sense of security before God. It stands in contrast to the confidence and vindication found in the Lord.
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
Calamity refers to disaster, ruin, or misfortune. In the Psalms, it often describes the trials faced by the righteous at the hands of the wicked, who mistakenly rejoice when God’s people suffer.
kelimmah · Hebrew Noun
Dishonor refers to the state of being disgraced or humiliated. It represents the loss of status and reputation that comes upon those who set themselves against God and His anointed, serving as the opposite of the honor given to the righteous.
This psalm vividly reflects the deep personal anguish of David, likely during his persecution by King Saul. The enemies' malicious joy and self-magnification against him are contrasted with David's fervent prayer for God's righteous judgment and the ultimate vindication and praise of God by His servants.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David's persecution by Saul
As a young man, David was relentlessly pursued by King Saul, who saw him as a threat to his throne. David lived as a fugitive, hiding in caves and wilderness areas, while Saul and his men sought to kill him.
c. 1000 BC
David's internal struggles
During his time as a fugitive, David experienced intense emotional and spiritual turmoil, facing betrayal, loneliness, and the constant threat of death. This period profoundly shaped his prayers and laments found in the Psalms.
c. 970 BC
David becomes King of Israel
After Saul's death, David finally ascended to the throne, unifying the tribes of Israel and establishing Jerusalem as the capital. His reign brought a period of relative peace and stability.
c. 960 BC
Reign of Solomon
David's son Solomon succeeded him, ushering in a golden age for Israel. However, the kingdom later divided after his reign, leading to new conflicts and exiles.
This passage shares a very similar sentiment, with the psalmist asking God to put his enemies to shame and confusion, echoing the desire for their downfall that rejoices in his suffering.
Jeremiah 20:11This verse speaks of God's powerful presence as a mighty warrior, which directly relates to the psalmist's plea for God to fight against those who oppose him and to bring them to shame.
1 Samuel 24:17This passage reflects David's own experience with Saul, where Saul acknowledges David's righteousness and his own wrongdoing, creating a parallel to the shame and dishonor the psalmist wishes upon his enemies.
Proverbs 24:17This proverb warns against rejoicing when an enemy falls, which directly contrasts with the psalmist's imprecation in this verse, highlighting the different perspectives on the downfall of adversaries.
2 Thessalonians 1:6This verse speaks of God's righteous judgment to repay trouble to those who cause it, directly supporting the psalmist's prayer for God to bring shame and confusion upon those who rejoice in his calamity.
calvinPsalms 35:24-28: "Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me."
- Judge me, O Jehovah my God! According to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me. 25. Let them not say in their heart, Aha! our soul! [721] let them not say, We have swallowed him up. 26. Let those who rejoice at my hurt be ashamed and confounded together; let those who magnify themselves against me be clothed with shame and dishonor. 27. But let those who favor my right…
clarkePsalms 35:26: "Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me."
Let them be ashamed - This may be a prophetic declaration against Saul and his courtiers. They were ashamed, confounded, clothed with shame, and dishonored. All these took place in Saul's last battle with the Philistines, where he lost his crown and his life, and came to a most dishonorable end.
The verse doesn't just describe enemies being shamed; it uses the powerful imagery of them being "clothed" with it. This isn't just a fleeting feeling of embarrassment, but a complete, pervasive covering that defines their identity in the end, highlighting how God's justice will fully expose and shame those who arrogantly oppose His people.
David is crying out to God for justice against enemies who not only oppose him but actively delight in his suffering. He describes them as rejoicing in his misfortune and boasting against him, and this verse is his passionate plea for them to be utterly shamed and dishonored instead. The psalm closes with a hopeful vision of righteousness prevailing and God being magnified by those who favor David.
David is crying out to God for justice against enemies who not only oppose him but actively delight in his suffering. He describes them as rejoicing in his misfortune and boasting against him, and this verse is his passionate plea for them to be utterly shamed and dishonored instead. The psalm closes with a hopeful vision of righteousness prevailing and God being magnified by those who favor David.
"Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!" — The verse doesn't just describe enemies being shamed; it uses the powerful imagery of them being "clothed" with it. This isn't just a fleeting feeling of embarrassment, but a complete, pervasive cove…
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Last reviewed October 2026