Psalms 119:85 (WEB)

Passage

The proud have dug pits for me, contrary to your law.

Nearby Context

Psalms 119:83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke. I don’t forget your statutes.

Psalms 119:84 How many are the days of your servant? When will you execute judgment on those who persecute me?

Psalms 119:85 The proud have dug pits for me, contrary to your law.

Psalms 119:86 All of your commandments are faithful. They persecute me wrongfully. Help me!

Psalms 119:87 They had almost wiped me from the earth, but I didn’t forsake your precepts.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "proud", "pits", and "contrary". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "proud" and "pits", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 84's "How many are the days of your..." into verse 86's "All of your commandments are faithful They...", so "proud" and "pits" 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 "proud" and "pits" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.