John Calvin Commentary Psalms 119:150

"They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; They are far from thy law." — Psalms 119:150 (ASV)

The pursuers of malice have drawn near. Since the Hebrew word רודפי rodphee, translated the pursuers of, is in the construct state (meaning it is so related to the word זמה, zimmah, rendered wickedness, that in Latin, the latter would be in the genitive case), I interpret the clause as meaning that they draw near to do mischief.

I wonder what could lead interpreters to translate it as, The pursuers have approached, or drawn near to wickedness; a translation the idiom of the language does not permit, not to mention that זמה, zimmah, signifies perversity or malice rather than wickedness.

David therefore says that those who are vehemently bent on malice are pursuing him close behind, and that they rush upon him with such violence to do him mischief. This plainly indicates that they are far from God’s law, since they cast far from themselves all regard for uprightness and equity.

It was a most wretched condition for him to witness his enemies, who had shaken off all fear of God and reverence for his law, ready with uplifted hand to strike him dead—and they would have, had God not been near to defend him, as he adds in the following verse—