Psalm 31:13

13 For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

Psalm 31:13 in Other Translations

13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

13 For I hear the whispering of many—terror on every side! — as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.

13 I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.

13 The street-talk gossip has me "criminally insane"! Behind locked doors they plot how to ruin me for good.

13 For I have heard the defaming of many, Terror on every side: While they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

13 I have heard the whispering of many people-- terror on every side-- while they made plans together against me. They were plotting to take my life.

13 I have heard the gossip of many; terror is on every side. When they conspired against me, they plotted to take my life.

13 I hear the lies many people tell about me. There is terror all around me. Many have joined together against me. They plan to kill me.

Psalm 31:13 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 31:13

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.

Psalm 31:13 In-Context

11 Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends— those who see me on the street flee from me.

12 I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.

13 For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.”

15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.

Cross References

• 1. S Leviticus 19:16; Psalms 50:20
• 2. S Job 18:11; Isaiah 13:8; Jeremiah 6:25; Jeremiah 20:3,10; Jeremiah 46:5; Jeremiah 49:5; Lamentations 2:22
• 3. Psalms 41:7; Psalms 56:6; Psalms 71:10; Psalms 83:3
• 4. S Genesis 37:18; S Matthew 12:14; Matthew 27:1