Psalms 38:12 BSB — MannaFest

Psalms 38:12

Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

They also that seek after my life lay snares for me; And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, And meditate deceits all the day long.

KJV

They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

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Commentary

3 voices

Athanasius of Alexandria

296–373

FESTAL LETTERS 9:4 (373)

People who cling to evil thoughts do not stand for truth but for falsehood. They do not stand for righteousness but for iniquity, because their tongue learns to speak lies. They have done evil, never pausing so that they could repent. Persevering with delight in wicked actions, they run to them without even looking back. They even tread underfoot the commandment about neighbors, and instead of loving them, they plot evil against them. As the ancient saint testifies, "Those who plot evil against me have spoken lies and plan treachery all day long."

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763)

They also that seek after my life,.... His avowed and implacable enemies, whom nothing would satisfy but the taking away of his life: these came too near him; for these, he says, lay snares for me, as Satan does for the souls of men, as the Jews did for Christ, and as wicked men do for the saints, Psa 124:7; and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things; to the injury of his character and reputation: and imagine deceits all the day long; contrive artful schemes to deceive; see Psa 35:20.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The Treasury of David, Vol. 2 (1870)

They also that seek after my life lay snares for me. Alas! for us when in addition to inward griefs, we are beset by outward temptations. David's foes endeavoured basely to ensnare him. If fair means would not overthrow him, foul should be tried. This snaring business is a vile one, the devil's own poachers alone condescend to it; but prayer to God will deliver us, for the craft of the entire college of tempters can be met and overcome by those who are led of the Spirit. They that seek my hurt speak mischievous things.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

11 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
וַיְנַקְשׁ֤וּ׀	vay.nak.Shu	and they set traps	H5367 →
מְבַקְשֵׁ֬י	me.vak.Shei	[those who] seek	H1245 →
נַפְשִׁ֗י	naf.Shi	<of> life my	H5315 →
וְדֹרְשֵׁ֣י	ve.do.re.Shei	and [those who] seek	H1875 →
רָ֭עָתִי	Ra.'a.ti	<of> harm my	H7451 →
דִּבְּר֣וּ	di.be.Ru	they have spoken	H1696 →
הַוּ֑וֹת	ha.Vot	destruction<s>	H1942 →
וּ֝מִרְמ֗וֹת	u.mir.Mot	and deceit<s>	H4820 →
כָּל־	kol-	all	H3605 →
הַיּ֥וֹם	hai.Yom	the day	H3117 →
יֶהְגּֽוּ׃	yeh.Gu	they devise	H1897 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Psalms 54:3
For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life— men with no regard for God. Selah
leads to
- Psalms 86:14
  The arrogant rise against me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, with no regard for You.
- Psalms 36:1
  An oracle is in my heart regarding the transgression of the wicked man: There is no fear of God before his eyes.
Through
Psalms 140:5
The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah
leads to
- Psalms 35:7
  For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.
- Psalms 142:3
  Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me.
- Jeremiah 18:22
  Let a cry be heard from their houses when You suddenly bring raiders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet.
Through
Psalms 119:110
The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from Your precepts.
leads to
- Psalms 140:5
  The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah
- Psalms 119:95
  The wicked wait to destroy me, but I will ponder Your testimonies.
- Psalms 141:9
  Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, and from the lures of evildoers.

About Psalms

Saul attempts to kill David (the harpist of Israel) — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain

Psalms: the study guide →Read chapter 38 →The featured study →

Continue: Psalms 38 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

06About Psalms

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

About Psalms