Psalms 35:15

But at my halting they rejoice, and gather themselves together. Limping, like stumbling, is a figure for misfortune. Cp. Psalms 38:17; Jeremiah 20:10.

Yea, the abjects The word rendered abjectsis of doubtful meaning and possibly corrupt. (1) According to the rendering of A.V., retained by R.V., the sense is, that with his other enemies were associated the lowest outcasts, a rabble of men whom he knew not (Job 30:8 ff.); for the last words of the line must be rendered with R.V. marg., andthose whom I knew not. (2) But the form of the sentence rather points to a description of the conduct of the men who have been mentioned already: so (retaining or slightly altering the present text), they gather themselves together smiting me unawares, or, for things that I know not. The wounds of slander are meant (Jeremiah 18:18). So the Targum: wicked men who smite me with their words. (3) Various emendations have been proposed. One that has found some favour, strangers, is foreign to the rest of the Psalm.

they did tearme &c. They rend me, and cease not. Like beasts of prey (Hosea 13:8); or as we talk of tearing a man's reputation to shreds. -Making mouths" in P.B.V. is a modernisation of -making mowes", i.e. grimaces, which is found in the Great Bible and the early editions of the Prayer Book.