Verse

Psalm 35:4

ESV Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me!
NIV May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.
NASB Let those be ashamed and dishonored who seek my life; Let those be turned back and humiliated who devise evil against me.
CSB Let those who intend to take my life be disgraced and humiliated; let those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed.
NLT Bring shame and disgrace on those trying to kill me; turn them back and humiliate those who want to harm me.
KJV 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.
NKJV Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor Who seek after my life; Let those be turned back and brought to confusion Who plot my hurt.

What does Psalm 35:4 mean?

Still asking the Lord to defeat his enemies (Psalm 35:1–3), David asks them to be routed, humiliated, and thwarted. Many of David's enemies sought his life (1 Samuel 19:1–2; 2 Samuel 15:13–14). Yet David was sure God could protect him and confound his enemies. In many psalms, David referred to himself as a wanted fugitive, whose enemies wanted nothing less than his death (Psalm 38:12; 40:14; 54:3; 63:9; 70:2).

Those who sought to kill David foreshadow the enemies of his most prominent descendant, Jesus the Messiah. John 7:1 says, "After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him." The chief priests and elders met together in the palace of Caiaphas to plan how to arrest and kill Jesus (Matthew 26:3–4). Unbelievers within Israel had a long history of killing God's prophets and messengers (Matthew 23:34–37).

This wording resembles other "imprecatory psalms"—appeals to God for retribution against enemies—many of which are ascribed to David (Psalm 69:22–25; Psalm 109:8–15).
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