12 They also that seek H1245 after my life H5315 lay snares H5367 for me: and they that seek H1875 my hurt H7451 speak H1696 mischievous things, H1942 and imagine H1897 deceits H4820 all the day H3117 long.
For they speak H1696 not peace: H7965 but they devise H2803 deceitful H4820 matters H1697 against them that are quiet H7282 in the land. H776
The proud H1343 have hid H2934 a snare H6341 for me, and cords; H2256 they have spread H6566 a net H7568 by the wayside; H3027 H4570 they have set H7896 gins H4170 for me. Selah. H5542
And thus said H559 Shimei H8096 when he cursed, H7043 Come out, H3318 come out, H3318 thou bloody H1818 man, H376 and thou man H376 of Belial: H1100 The LORD H3068 hath returned H7725 upon thee all the blood H1818 of the house H1004 of Saul, H7586 in whose stead thou hast reigned; H4427 and the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 the kingdom H4410 into the hand H3027 of Absalom H53 thy son: H1121 and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, H7451 because thou art a bloody H1818 man. H376
Moreover Ahithophel H302 said H559 unto Absalom, H53 Let me now choose out H977 twelve H8147 H6240 thousand H505 men, H376 and I will arise H6965 and pursue H7291 after H310 David H1732 this night: H3915 And I will come H935 upon him while he is weary H3023 and weak H7504 handed, H3027 and will make him afraid: H2729 and all the people H5971 that are with him shall flee; H5127 and I will smite H5221 the king H4428 only: And I will bring back H7725 all the people H5971 unto thee: the man H376 whom thou seekest H1245 is as if all returned: H7725 so all the people H5971 shall be in peace. H7965
Let them be confounded H954 and put to shame H3637 that seek H1245 after my soul: H5315 let them be turned H5472 back H268 and brought to confusion H2659 that devise H2803 my hurt. H7451
Hide H5641 me from the secret counsel H5475 of the wicked; H7489 from the insurrection H7285 of the workers H6466 of iniquity: H205 Who whet H8150 their tongue H3956 like a sword, H2719 and bend H1869 their bows to shoot their arrows, H2671 even bitter H4751 words: H1697 That they may shoot H3384 in secret H4565 at the perfect: H8535 suddenly H6597 do they shoot H3384 at him, and fear H3372 not. They encourage H2388 themselves in an evil H7451 matter: H1697 they commune H5608 of laying H2934 snares H4170 privily; H2934 they say, H559 Who shall see H7200 them?
Keep H8104 me from the snares H3027 H6341 which they have laid H3369 for me, and the gins H4170 of the workers H6466 of iniquity. H205
How long will ye imagine mischief H2050 against a man? H376 ye shall be slain H7523 all of you: as a bowing H5186 wall H7023 shall ye be, and as a tottering H1760 fence. H1447 They only consult H3289 to cast him down H5080 from his excellency: H7613 they delight H7521 in lies: H3577 they bless H1288 with their mouth, H6310 but they curse H7043 inwardly. H7130 Selah. H5542
The wicked H7563 have laid H5414 a snare H6341 for me: yet I erred H8582 not from thy precepts. H6490
And G2532 the chief priests G749 and G2532 the scribes G1122 the same G1722 G846 hour G5610 sought G2212 to lay G1911 hands G5495 on G1909 him; G846 and G2532 they feared G5399 the people: G2992 for G1063 they perceived G1097 that G3754 he had spoken G2036 this G5026 parable G3850 against G4314 them. G846 And G2532 they watched G3906 him, and sent forth G649 spies, G1455 which should feign G5271 G1511 themselves G1438 just men, G1342 that G2443 they might take hold G1949 of his G846 words, G3056 that so G1519 they might deliver G3860 him G846 unto the power G746 and G2532 authority G1849 of the governor. G2232 And G2532 they asked G1905 him, G846 saying, G3004 Master, G1320 we know G1492 that G3754 thou sayest G3004 and G2532 teachest G1321 rightly, G3723 G2532 neither G3756 acceptest thou G2983 the person G4383 of any, but G235 teachest G1321 the way G3598 of God G2316 truly: G225 G1909 Is it lawful G1832 for us G2254 to give G1325 tribute G5411 unto Caesar, G2541 or G2228 no? G3756
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 38
Commentary on Psalms 38 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 38
Ps 38:1-22. To bring to remembrance, or, remind God of His mercy and himself of his sin. Appealing to God for relief from His heavy chastisement, the Psalmist avows his integrity before men, complains of the defection of friends and persecution of enemies, and in a submissive spirit, casting himself on God, with penitent confession he pleads God's covenant relation and his innocence of the charges of his enemies, and prays for divine comfort and help.
1-4. He deprecates deserved punishment, which is described (Ps 6:1), under the figure of bodily disease [Ps 38:3].
2. arrows … and thy hand—the sharp and heavy afflictions he suffered (De 32:23).
4. iniquities—afflictions in punishment of sin (2Sa 16:12; Ps 31:10; 40:12).
gone over mine head—as a flood.
5-8. The loathsomeness, corruption, and wasting torture of severe physical disease set forth his mental anguish [Ps 38:6]. It is possible some bodily disease was connected. The
loins are the seat of strength. His exhaustion left him only the power to groan [Ps 38:9].
9. That God can hear (Ro 8:26).
10. My heart panteth—as if barely surviving.
light … from me—utter exhaustion (Ps 6:7; 13:3).
11, 12. Friends desert, but foes increase in malignity.
12. seek after my life—(1Sa 20:1; 22:23).
13, 14. He patiently submits, uttering no reproaches or replies (Joh 19:9) to their insulting speeches;
15-17. for he is confident the
Lord—literally, "Sovereign" (to whom he was a servant), would answer his prayer (Ps 3:4; 4:1), and not permit their triumph in his partial halting, of which he was in danger.
18. Consciousness of sin makes suffering pungent, and suffering, rightly received, leads to confession.
19, 20. Still, while humbled before God, he is the victim of deadly enemies, full of malice and treachery.
enemies are lively—literally, "of life," who would take my life, that is, deadly.
21, 22. (Compare Ps 22:19; 35:3). All terms of frequent use. In this Psalm the language is generally susceptible of application to Christ as a sufferer, David, as such, typifying Him. This does not require us to apply the confessions of sin, but only the pains or penalties which He bore for us.