5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, They have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah.
For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way in which I walk, They have hidden a snare for me.
They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dig a pit before me. They fall into the midst of it themselves. Selah.
Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, From the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall together into their own nets, While I pass by.
They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. They asked him, "Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren't partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test me?
As he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry, and to draw many things out of him; lying in wait for him, and seeking to catch him in something he might say, that they might accuse him.
Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
A man who flatters his neighbor, Spreads a net for his feet.
A snare shall take him by the heel; A trap shall lay hold on him.
The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I haven't gone astray from your precepts.
The proud have dug pits for me, Contrary to your law.
Don't let the foot of pride come against me. Don't let the hand of the wicked drive me away.
Pluck me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, For you are my stronghold.
Keep me as the apple of your eye; Hide me under the shadow of your wings, From the wicked who oppress me, My deadly enemies, who surround me. They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly. They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth. He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, As it were a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, Yahweh, Confront him, cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword;
The wicked, in the pride of his face, Has no room in his thoughts for God. His ways are prosperous at all times; He is haughty, and your laws are far from his sight: As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them. He says in his heart, "I shall not be shaken; For generations I shall have no trouble." His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity. He lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless. He lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless, when he draws him in his net. The helpless are crushed, they collapse, They fall under his strength. He says in his heart, "God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it." Arise, Yahweh! God, lift up your hand! Don't forget the helpless.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 140
Commentary on Psalms 140 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 140
This and the four following psalms are much of a piece, and the scope of them the same with many that we met with in the beginning and middle of the book of Psalms, though with but few of late. They were penned by David (as it should seem) when he was persecuted by Saul; one of them is said to be his "prayer when he was in the cave,' and it is probable that all the rest were penned about the same time. In this psalm,
To the chief musician. A psalm of David.
Psa 140:1-7
In this, as in other things, David was a type of Christ, that he suffered before he reigned, was humbled before he was exalted, and that as there were many who loved and valued him, and sought to do him honour, so there were many who hated and envied him, and sought to do him mischief, as appears by these verses, where,
Psa 140:8-13
Here is the believing foresight David had,