Psalm 71:13

13 Men that backbite my soul, be shamed, and fail they; and be they covered with reproof and shame, that seek evils to me. (Let those who backbite me be shamed, and fail they; let those who seek evil for me, be covered with reproach and shame.)

Psalm 71:13 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 71:13

Let them be confounded
See ( Psalms 70:2 ) ;

[and] consumed;
like smoke; see ( Psalms 37:20 ) ; as antichrist will be with the breath of Christ's mouth, and the brightness of his coming, ( 2 Thessalonians 2:8 ) ;

that are adversaries to my soul;
that hated him with a diabolical hatred, as the devil hates the souls of men, and who has his name "Satan" from the word here used; all wicked men are Satans, full of enmity against God, and all good men; and such were David's enemies, spiteful and malicious, and nothing would satisfy them but his life;

let them be covered [with] reproach and dishonour;
as with a garment:

that seek my hurt;
see ( Psalms 35:26 ) ( Psalms 109:18 Psalms 109:19 ) ; as Absalom and his company; so Arama.

Psalm 71:13 In-Context

11 Saying, God hath forsaken him; pursue ye, and take him; for none there is that shall deliver. (And they said, God hath deserted him; pursue ye after him, and take hold of him; for there is no one who will save him.)

12 God, be thou not made afar from me; my God, behold thou into mine help. (God, be thou not made far away from me; my God, hasten thou to help me.)

13 Men that backbite my soul, be shamed, and fail they; and be they covered with reproof and shame, that seek evils to me. (Let those who backbite me be shamed, and fail they; let those who seek evil for me, be covered with reproach and shame.)

14 But I shall hope ever[more]; and I shall add to ever over all thy praising. (But I shall have hope in thee forevermore; and I shall praise thee more and more.)

15 My mouth shall tell thy rightfulness; all day thine health. For I knew not (by) literature, that is, by man's teaching, but by God's revelation, (My mouth shall tell out thy righteousness; and thy salvation, or thy deliverance, all day long. For I know not by literature, that is, by man's teaching, or by reading and study, but by the revelation of God.)