Psalms 71:10

For mine enemies speak against, me ,.... Or "say unto me" F25 אמרו לי "dixerunt mihi", Montanus. what is expressed in the following verse, "God hath forsaken him"; and so these words are a reason of the above petitions: or "mine enemies speak to me"; or "of me" F26 "De me loquuti sunt, vel loquuntur", Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus, Michaelis. ; 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 spake 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 שמרי נפשי "custodientes animam meam", Pagninus, Montanus; "custodiebant", V. L. ; 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 16:20 .