For I have heard the slander of many
 Both enemies and neighbours; 
 fear [was] on every side;
 his enemies were a "Magormissabib" to him, ( Jeremiah 20:3 ) ; encompassed him around, so that he was in fear from every quarter; 
 while they took counsel together against me;
 how to apprehend him, and what to do with him; 
 they devised to take away my life;
 nothing short of that would satisfy; but life is in the hand of God; men may devise, but God disappoints, and his counsel stands; hence the psalmist was encouraged, after all, to trust in him, in this time of imminent danger, as follows.