Psalms 118:23 (DRB)

Passage

For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.

Nearby Context

Psalms 118:21 Thou hast rebuked the proud: they are cursed who decline from thy commandments.

Psalms 118:22 Remove from me reproach and contempt: because I have sought after thy testimonies.

Psalms 118:23 For princes sat, and spoke against me: but thy servant was employed in thy justifications.

Psalms 118:24 For thy testimonies are my meditation: and thy justifications my counsel.

Psalms 118:25 My soul hath cleaved to the pavement: quicken thou me according to thy word.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Remove from me reproach and contempt because..." into verse 24's "For thy testimonies are my meditation and...", so "princes" and "spoke" 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 "spoke" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.