“But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.”
The psalmist acknowledges that when the enemies were ill, he wore sackcloth and humbled himself with fasting, yet his prayer returned to his own breast. The verse reveals that the psalmist responded to the enemies' suffering with acts of penitence and intercession, treating their affliction as occasion for prayer. The phrase 'my prayer returned to my own breast' suggests that the psalmist's intercession on behalf of the enemies was not reciprocated: his prayers went unanswered, or worse, his kindness was spurned. This verse demonstrates the psalmist's attempt at reconciliation and compassion, which met with rejection.
Church Fathers on Psalms 35:13
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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