“They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.”
The psalmist recalls that the enemies have repaid him evil for good and isolation for his attempts at friendship. The verb 'repaid' suggests a deliberate reversal: where the psalmist offered goodness and companionship, the enemies offered cruelty and betrayal. This verse deepens the sense of injustice: the psalmist has not provoked the hostility through his own wickedness but rather has received evil in response to kindness. The contrast emphasizes the moral inversion: those acting virtuously face rejection from those whose hearts are bent on harm.
Church Fathers on Psalms 35:12
1. ...The title of it causes us no delay, for it is both brief, and to be understood not difficult, especially to those nursed in the Church of God. For so it is, “To David himself.” The Psalm then is to David himself: now David is interpreted, Strong in hand, or Desirable. The Psalm then is to the Strong in hand, and Desirable, to Him who for us has overcome death, who unto us has promised life: for in this is He Strong in hand, that He has overcome death for us; in this is…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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