Psalms 119:85

85 The arrogant have ¹dug pits for me, Men who are not in accord with Your law.

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 Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.

84 How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me?

85 The arrogant have dug pits for me, Men who are not in accord with Your law.

86 All Your commandments are faithful; They have persecuted me with a lie; help me!

87 They almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 7:15; Psalms 35:7; Psalms 57:6; Jeremiah 18:22

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "according to Your law"