John Calvin Commentary Psalms 119:85

"The proud have digged pits for me, Who are not according to thy law." — Psalms 119:85 (ASV)

The proud have dug pits for me. He complains that he had been deceived by the frauds and cunning devices of his enemies, as if he were saying that they had not only endeavored to injure me by open force and the violence of the sword, but had also maliciously sought to destroy me by snares and secret arts.

The additional clause, which thing is not according to your Law, is introduced as an argument to prompt God to exercise his mercy; for he is more inclined to help his servants when he sees that the attempts made against their welfare involve the violation of his own Law.

At the same time, the Psalmist provides proof of his own innocence, suggesting that he had deserved no such treatment from them. Whatever they did, he nevertheless patiently restrained himself, not attempting anything which he knew to be contrary to the Divine Law.