John Calvin Commentary Psalms 35:11

"Unrighteous witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I know not." — Psalms 35:11 (ASV)

Violent witnesses rise up. The Hebrew is, they shall rise up; but in using the future tense, the Psalmist intimates that he is speaking of what he had suffered for a long time. And he complains that he was so oppressed with calumny that he had no opportunity to defend himself. Indeed, nothing can be more grievous and painful to those of an ingenuous mind, who are conscious of no blame.

Besides, he not only says that he had been falsely accused, but he also condemns the audacity and insolence of those who violently rose up to bear witness against him. To this belongs what he adds, They charge me with things which I know not. David then was not only stripped of his worldly goods and basely driven into exile, but was also accused and loaded with infamy under the guise of justice.

Being involved in such distress, he turned directly to God, hoping that he would maintain his innocence. So should the children of God walk through good report and bad report, and patiently suffer reproach, until he asserts and declares their innocence from on high. In old times, it was a common proverb among the heathen, “There is no theater more beautiful than a good conscience;” and in this they uttered a noble sentiment. However, no one can be sustained and supported by the purity of his conscience unless he turns to God.