John Gill Commentary Psalms 71:10

"For mine enemies speak concerning me; And they that watch for my soul take counsel together," — Psalms 71:10 (ASV)

For mine enemies speak against, me
Or "say unto me" ^F25 what is expressed in the following verse, "God has forsaken him"; and so these words are a reason of the above petitions: or "mine enemies speak to me"; or "of me" ^F26 ; not good, but evil, and so the Targum paraphrases it, "for mine enemies speak evil against me;" or concerning me. David had his enemies, and many, as Ahithophel, and others, who spoke against him to the people, and thereby drew many with them into rebellion against him; and particularly Shimei spoke against him, and cursed him, calling him a bloody man, a man of Belial, (2 Samuel 16:7) ;

and they that lay wait for my soul ;
or "life"; that laid snares for him; or lay in ambush, and sought for an opportunity to take away his life: or "they that keep my soul", or "life" ^F1 ; that were his bodyguards that were about his person for the preservation of him; and so the Targum seems to understand it;

take counsel together ;
lay schemes and form plots how to destroy him, as Ahithophel did, (2 Samuel 16:17–20:4) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F25: (yl wrma) "dixerunt mihi", Montanus.
• F26: "De me loquuti sunt, vel loquuntur", Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus, Michaelis.
• F1: (yvpn yrmv) "custodientes animam meam", Pagninus, Montanus; "custodiebant", V. L.