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Psalm 71:10
For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together,
8My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your honor all day long.
9Don’t reject me in my old age. Don’t forsake me when my strength fails.
10For my enemies talk about me. Those who watch for my soul conspire together,
11saying, “God has forsaken him. Pursue and take him, for no one will rescue him.”
12God, don’t be far from me. My God, hurry to help me.
Notice
Enemies talking together become a threat to life here, made more stark by the surrounding plea for God’s help as strength fails in old age.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What changes in your reading when you hear these words after the plea about failing strength?
Write on thisWhat would you want to bring before God if others were planning harm against you?
Write on thisConnect
Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 56:6They conspire and lurk, watching my steps. They are eager to take my life.Both speakers describe enemies who conspire together and keep watch with the intent to take a life.
Psalm 83:3They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.Both passages name a conspiracy, directed against the speaker in Psalm 71 and against God’s people in Psalm 83.
Psalm 31:13For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side, while they conspire together against me, they plot to take away my life.Both speakers face hostile talk and enemies conspiring together against their lives.
Matthew 26:3–4Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas.People act together in both passages; Psalm 71 names a conspiracy, while the supplied Matthew verse describes a gathering of leaders.
Jeremiah 20:10For I have heard the defaming of many: “Terror on every side! Denounce, and we will denounce him!” say all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall. …Both speakers report hostile talk from people watching for their downfall; Jeremiah identifies familiar friends among those seeking revenge.
Psalm 37:32–33The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him.Watching carries lethal intent in both passages: enemies watch the speaker in Psalm 71, and the wicked watch the righteous in Psalm 37.
Daniel 9:25“Know therefore and discern that from the going out of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem to the Anointed One, the prince, will be seven weeks and …The link is limited to trouble: Psalm 71 describes personal enemies, while Daniel speaks of Jerusalem being rebuilt in troubled times.
Matthew 27:1Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.Both passages describe people planning together against someone’s life; Matthew names Jesus as the target of the leaders’ counsel.
2 Samuel 17:1–14Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David tonight.Both passages describe plans against a person; Ahithophel proposes pursuing David, while the psalm’s speaker reports enemies conspiring together.
1 Samuel 19:11Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, “If you don’t save your life …Watching is part of a threat to life in both passages; Saul’s messengers watch David’s house with orders to kill him.
Proverbs 1:11If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.Both passages describe people joining in plans that threaten life; Proverbs makes their intent to shed innocent blood explicit.
John 11:53So from that day forward they took counsel that they might put him to death.Both passages describe a shared plan against someone’s life; John states that those taking counsel intend to put Jesus to death.
Where this verse fits
Aging. injustice and anger. fear for the future.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The enemies’ claim that God has forsaken the speaker belongs to their plot. The prayer still turns to God for help, even before the danger passes.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).