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These arrogant people who hate your instructions have dug deep pits to trap me.
Psalms 119:85 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB The proud have dug pits for me, contrary to your law.
  • KJV The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
  • BSB The arrogant have dug pits for me in violation of Your law.
  • NKJV The proud have dug pits for me, Which is not according to Your law.
  • NASB The arrogant have dug pits for me, People who are not in accord with Your Law.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The arrogant have dug pits to trap him, acting contrary to God's law. The wicked oppose both the righteous and the word that condemns them.

Overview

The psalmist describes deliberate traps set by the proud, plots that stand in direct violation of God's law. Their lawlessness against him is at root rebellion against God's revealed will. The picture of the innocent ensnared by the wicked finds its deepest fulfillment in Christ, against whom plots were laid, yet who triumphed over them (Ps. 7:15; Acts 2:23-24).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 8

  • Prov 16:27A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
  • Ps 35:7For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
  • Jer 18:20Shall evil be recompensed for good? For they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
  • Ps 7:15He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made.
  • Ps 119:78Let the proud be disappointed, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts.
  • Ps 36:11Don’t let the foot of pride come against me. Don’t let the hand of the wicked drive me away.
  • Ps 58:1–2For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David. Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?
  • Jer 18:22Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you shall bring a troop suddenly on them; for they have dug a pit to take me, and hidden snares for my feet.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Psalms videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Psalms 119:85YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on PsalmsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.

How Psalms 119:85 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.