Psalms 35:22 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

You have seen all of this, O LORD: don't stay silent about it. O Lord, don't stay far away from me.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

The writer is asking God to speak up and act on what He has witnessed, and to stay close during this difficult time.

📚 Historical Context

This psalm is attributed to David, likely written during a time when he was being falsely accused or persecuted by enemies. In ancient Israel, calling on God to witness injustice was a formal appeal for divine intervention and justice. The psalmist is essentially asking God to serve as both witness and judge in his case.

Explore Similar Verses

Matthew 26:63

But Jesus stayed completely silent. Then the high priest got frustrated and said, 'I'm putting you under oath before the living God — just tell us straight up: are you the Christ, the Son of God?'

Mark 3:4

Then Jesus asked them straight up: 'Is it right to do good things on the Sabbath, or should we do harm? Should we save someone's life or just let them die?' But they stayed completely silent.

Mark 14:61

But Jesus stayed completely silent and didn't say a word. So the high priest tried again and asked him directly, 'Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?'

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