Psalm 35:14
New International Version
I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.

New Living Translation
I was sad, as though they were my friends or family, as if I were grieving for my own mother.

English Standard Version
I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.

Berean Standard Bible
I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother.

King James Bible
I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

New King James Version
I paced about as though he were my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.

New American Standard Bible
I went about as though it were my friend or brother; I bowed down in mourning, like one who mourns for a mother.

NASB 1995
I went about as though it were my friend or brother; I bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.

NASB 1977
I went about as though it were my friend or brother; I bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.

Legacy Standard Bible
I walked about as though it were my friend or brother; I bowed down mourning, as one who sorrows for a mother.

Amplified Bible
I behaved as if grieving for my friend or my brother; I bowed down in mourning, as one who sorrows for his mother.

Christian Standard Bible
I went about mourning as if for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for a mother.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I went about grieving as if for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning a mother.

American Standard Version
I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother: I bowed down mourning, as one that bewaileth his mother.

Contemporary English Version
as I would for a friend or a relative. I was in sorrow and mourned, as I would for my mother.

English Revised Version
I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother: I bowed down mourning, as one that bewaileth his mother.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I walked around as if I were mourning for my friend or my brother. I was bent over as if I were mourning for my mother.

Good News Translation
as I would pray for a friend or a brother. I went around bent over in mourning, as one who mourns for his mother.

International Standard Version
I paced about as for my friend or my brother, and fell down mourning as one weeps for one's mother.

Majority Standard Bible
I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother.

NET Bible
I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother. I bowed down in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother.

New Heart English Bible
I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.

Webster's Bible Translation
I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.

World English Bible
I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
As [if] a friend, as [if] my brother, "" I habitually walked, "" As a mourner for a mother, "" I have bowed down mourning.

Young's Literal Translation
As if a friend, as if my brother, I walked habitually, As a mourner for a mother, Mourning I have bowed down.

Smith's Literal Translation
As a friend, as a brother to me: I went about as mourning a mother: being darkened, I bowed down.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
As a neighbour and as an own brother, so did I please : as one mourning and sorrowful so was I humbled.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Like a neighbor, and like our brother, so did I please; like one mourning and contrite, so was I humbled.

New American Bible
I went about in grief as for my brother, bent in mourning as for my mother.

New Revised Standard Version
as though I grieved for a friend or a brother; I went about as one who laments for a mother, bowed down and in mourning.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I behaved myself as though they had been my friends and brothers; I bowed down heavily, as one miserable in deep mourning.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I have walked as a friend and a brother, and as he who sits in mourning, I was saddened.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I went about as though it had been my friend or my brother; I bowed down mournful, as one that mourneth for his mother.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I behaved agreeably towards them as if it had been our neighbour or brother: I humbled myself as one mourning and sad of countenance.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Contend with My Opponents
13Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered. 14I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother. 15But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.…

Cross References
Job 30:25
Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has my soul not grieved for the needy?

Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

1 Corinthians 12:26
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Luke 6:28
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

2 Samuel 1:11-12
Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same. / They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

2 Samuel 3:31-32
Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier. / When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept.

Jeremiah 9:1
Oh, that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night over the slain daughter of my people.

Lamentations 3:48
Streams of tears flow from my eyes over the destruction of the daughter of my people.

John 11:33-35
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. / “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. / Jesus wept.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

Galatians 6:2
Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Philippians 2:4
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble.

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.


Treasury of Scripture

I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns for his mother.

I behaved [heb.

2 Samuel 1:11,12,17
Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: …

Luke 19:41,42
And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, …

as one.

Genesis 24:67
And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Jump to Previous
Behaved Bowed Dead Friend Grief Grieved Habitually Head Heavily Mother Mourneth Mourning Mourns Sorrows Walked Weeping
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Behaved Bowed Dead Friend Grief Grieved Habitually Head Heavily Mother Mourneth Mourning Mourns Sorrows Walked Weeping
Psalm 35
1. David prays for his own safety, and his enemies' confusion
11. He complains of their wrongful dealing
22. Thereby he incites God against them














I paced about as for my friend or brother
This phrase captures the deep emotional turmoil and empathy that David felt. The Hebrew word for "paced about" is "halak," which often means to walk or go about. In this context, it suggests a restless, anxious movement, reflecting David's deep concern and care. The comparison to a "friend or brother" indicates a close, familial bond, emphasizing the depth of David's compassion and loyalty. Historically, friendships and brotherhoods in ancient Israel were sacred and binding, often involving covenants and mutual support. David's actions here reflect a heart aligned with God's own compassion, as he mourns and intercedes for those he loves deeply.

I bowed down in mourning, as one weeping for his mother
The act of "bowing down" signifies humility and submission, often associated with deep sorrow or reverence. The Hebrew root "shachah" conveys a sense of prostration, indicating the intensity of David's grief. Mourning customs in ancient Israel were profound, involving sackcloth, ashes, and public lamentation. The comparison to "weeping for his mother" underscores the personal and profound nature of his sorrow. A mother's loss is one of the deepest human griefs, symbolizing the ultimate expression of love and loss. This phrase highlights David's vulnerability and the sincerity of his lament, reflecting a heart that mirrors God's own compassion for His people.

(14) I bowed down heavily.--Better, I went squalid, and bowed down, alluding to the neglected beard and person, and to the dust and ashes of Oriental mourning.

Verse 14. - I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother. In every such case I sympathized with the sufferer to such an extent, that my conduct was like that of an intimate friend or a brother. I bowed down heavily, as one that mournsth for his mother. Nay, I went further; I took on all those outward signs of grief which are usual when a man has lost his mother. I "bowed down heavily," as though I could scarcely stand. The Orientals are extreme and exaggerated in their manifestations both of joy and grief (see Herod., 8:99).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I paced about
הִתְהַלָּ֑כְתִּי (hiṯ·hal·lā·ḵə·tî)
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

as for my friend
כְּרֵֽעַ־ (kə·rê·a‘-)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

or brother;
כְּאָ֣ח (kə·’āḥ)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

I was bowed down
שַׁחֽוֹתִי׃ (ša·ḥō·w·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7817: To bow, be bowed down, crouch

with grief,
קֹדֵ֥ר (qō·ḏêr)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6937: To be ashy, darkcolored, to mourn

like one mourning
כַּאֲבֶל־ (ka·’ă·ḇel-)
Preposition-k | Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 57: Lamenting

[for his] mother.
אֵ֝֗ם (’êm)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )


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OT Poetry: Psalm 35:14 I behaved myself as though it had (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 35:13
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