John Gill Commentary Psalms 31:13

"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." — Psalms 31:13 (ASV)

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.