What does Psalm 35:8 mean?

David prays that his enemy—perhaps Saul and his men (1 Samuel 19:1–2; 23:15)—will meet surprising destruction by suffering the fate they attempted to bring to David. This would be not only surprising but a complete reversal of the destruction Saul hoped to inflict. A common tactic used by hunters and soldiers is a "pitfall:" a narrow, deep hole covered by a thin disguised layer of leaves and branches. When the target steps on this, they fall into the hole and are trapped. In some variations, a net is used over top the hole so the victim is also tangled and unable to escape. Symbolically, David asks that his enemies fall into their own trap.

Sometimes the evil which a person plans inflicts itself on them, instead. In modern English, this is described using terms such as "backfire" or "boomerang." In the book of Esther, the jealous government official Haman schemed to destroy the Jewish people. In the end, he was executed on the gallows he had built to kill his enemies (Esther 7—9). Judas betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. He was, therefore, a willing participant in Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion. However, remorse overtook Judas. He tried to return the money, then committed suicide (Matthew 27:3–5). Jesus, on the other hand, arose from the dead and lives forevermore (Matthew 28:5–10).