Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

PSALMS 35:24KJV
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Psalms 35:24 (KJV)

What does Psalms 35:24 mean?

Psalms 35:24 is a plea for God to deal fairly with the speaker in a conflict. The speaker asks God to judge according to God’s own fairness and to keep his enemies from celebrating a victory over him.

The speaker addresses God directly as “my God,” making the request personal. After asking God to awake to his cause in verse 23, he asks for a decision that will leave his opponents no reason to rejoice.

The Hebrew behind Psalms 35:24

  • “Judge” — שָׁפַט (shafat): This word can mean to judge or decide a case. Here the speaker asks God to act as the one who decides between him and his opponents.
  • “righteousness” — צֶדֶק (tsedeq): This word carries the sense of what is right or just. The speaker appeals to God’s own standard of fairness as the basis for the decision.

Why Psalms 35:24 matters

  • The verse treats the conflict as a matter of right and wrong, not merely a contest of strength. The words “according to thy righteousness” give the reason for asking God to judge.
  • The opponents’ joy would come at the speaker’s expense. Their words in verse 25, “we have swallowed him up,” picture the kind of triumph the speaker asks God to prevent.
  • The request fits a wider complaint about unfair treatment. Earlier, in verse 11, the speaker says that witnesses rose against him and questioned him about things he did not know.

Where else these words appear

“righteousness” Hebrew H6664 · used in 109 verses

  • Leviticus 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
  • Psalms 58:1 To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
  • Ecclesiastes 7:15 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.

“rejoice” Hebrew H8055 · used in 145 verses

  • Exodus 4:14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.
  • Psalms 33:21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
  • Proverbs 17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.