For mine enemies speak against, me,.... Or "say unto me" y 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" z; 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,
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" a; 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.
y אמרו לי "dixerunt mihi", Montanus. z "De me loquuti sunt, vel loquuntur", Tigurine version, Junius Tremellius, Gejerus, Michaelis. a שמרי נפשי "custodientes animam meam", Pagninus, Montanus "custodiebant", V. L.