Psalms 119:85

85 The arrogant have dug pits for me to fall in; this is not in keeping with your Torah!

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 For I have shriveled like a wineskin in a smoky room; still, I don't forget your laws.
84 How long can your servant stay alive? When will you bring judgment on my persecutors?
85 The arrogant have dug pits for me to fall in; this is not in keeping with your Torah!
86 All your mitzvot [show your] faithfulness; they are hounding me with lies; help me!
87 They have nearly ended my life on earth, but I have not abandoned your precepts.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.