KJV ORIGINAL
I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
I acted as if he were my close friend or my own brother. I was deeply sorrowful, like someone grieving the loss of their mother.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is describing how he treated his enemies with genuine love and mourned for them as if they were family members.
📚 Historical Context
This psalm is attributed to David, who faced many enemies throughout his life, including King Saul and later his own son Absalom. In ancient Hebrew culture, mourning rituals were deeply significant, and comparing grief to losing one's mother represented the most profound form of sorrow. David is reflecting on how he responded to his enemies' troubles with compassion rather than celebration.
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