But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
In mine adversity they rejoiced - literally, 'in my halting' (Psalms 38:17); i:e., in my bodily weakness. In their sickness He made their pain His pain; but now in His sickness they make His pain their joy.
The abjects gathered ... and I knew it not - they flock together in crowds to insult the lonely and afflicted one. So at the crucifixion of Christ. Hengstenberg translates, 'the abjects whom I knew not'-literally, 'the smitten men,' those who, from their low condition were not among my recognized acquaintances (Job 30:1-14). But the sufferer had treated these, his persecutors, not only as persons whom He knew, but as though they were His 'friends and brothers' (Psalms 35:14). I therefore prefer, 'And I knew not' why 'they gathered themselves together against me.' I was conscious of no cause for their deadly hatred; nay, I knew I had given them every cause for the contrary feeling. Thus, this clause "I knew not," answers to Psalms 35:11, "things that I knew not," and Psalms 35:19 'without cause;' also Psalms 35:7.
They did tear me. The image is from the tearing of a garment. I therefore prefer the Septuagint and Vulgate rendering for "abjects" х neekiym (H5222), mastiges, flagella], 'the scourges,' or 'smiters,' which translation accords best with the verb 'tear.' Compare Jeremiah 18:18; Job 5:2, 'the scourge of the tongue.'