For I have heard the slander of many,.... Both enemies and neighbours; fear was on every side; his enemies were a "Magormissabib" to him, Jer 20:3; encompassed him around, so that he was in fear from every quarter; while they took counsel together against me; how to apprehend him, and what to do with him; they devised to take away my life; nothing short of that would satisfy; but life is in the hand of God; men may devise, but God disappoints, and his counsel stands; hence the psalmist was encouraged, after all, to trust in him, in this time of imminent danger, as follows.