Psalms 119:85

85 The arrogant have dug pits for me— those people who act against your Instruction.

Psalms 119:85 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 119:85

The proud have digged pits for me
Laid snares and temptations in his way, to draw him into sin, and so into mischief; they sought indeed to take away his life, and formed schemes for it. The allusion is to the digging of pits for the taking of wild beasts; which shows the ill opinion they had of David, and their ill usage of him; see ( Psalms 7:15 ) ( 9:15 ) ;

which [are] not after thy law;
no, contrary to it; which forbids the digging of a pit, and leaving it uncovered, so that a neighbour's beast might fall into it, ( Exodus 21:33 Exodus 21:34 ) ; and if those might not be dug to the injury of beasts, then much less to the injury of men, to the hurt of the servants of the Lord, or to the shedding of innocent blood, which the law forbids.

Psalms 119:85 In-Context

83 because I've become like a bottle dried up by smoke, though I haven't forgotten your statutes.

84 How much more time does your servant have? When will you bring my oppressors to justice?

85 The arrogant have dug pits for me— those people who act against your Instruction.

86 All your commandments are true, but people harass me for no reason. Help me!

87 They've almost wiped me off the face of the earth! Meanwhile, I haven't abandoned your precepts!