Psalms 119:23 (ASV)

Passage

Princes also sat and talked against me; [But] thy servant did meditate on thy statutes.

Nearby Context

Psalms 119:21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, That do wander from thy commandments.

Psalms 119:22 Take away from me reproach and contempt; For I have kept thy testimonies.

Psalms 119:23 Princes also sat and talked against me; [But] thy servant did meditate on thy statutes.

Psalms 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight [And] my counsellors. DALETH.

Psalms 119:25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "princes", "talked", "against", "servant", "meditate", and "statutes". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "princes" and "talked", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Take away from me reproach and contempt..." into verse 24's "Thy testimonies also are my delight And...", so "princes" and "talked" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "princes" and "talked" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.