I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned UNANSWERED

[TonyChanYT]

ESV, Psalm 35:

1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!

Let God fight against my enemies.

12 They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft. 13 But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.

For my part, I fasted and prayed for them.

The bolded phrase in Hebrew had a few different translations.

Literal Standard Version:

My prayer returns to my bosom.

Berean Standard Bible:

my prayers returned unanswered.

When David wrote this psalm, he might have had King Saul in mind. He sincerely fasted and prayed for him, but God did not answer his prayer exactly how he wanted. Praying with fasting is not a guarantee.