Worthy.Bible » WEB » Psalms » Chapter 38 » Verse 12

Psalms 38:12 World English Bible (WEB)

12 They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, And meditate deceits all day long.

Cross Reference

2 Samuel 16:7-8 WEB

Thus said Shimei when he cursed, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, and base fellow: Yahweh has returned on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and Yahweh has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son; and, behold, you are [taken] in your own mischief, because you are a man of blood.

2 Samuel 17:1-3 WEB

Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: and I will come on him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people who are with him shall flee; and I will strike the king only; and I will bring back all the people to you: the man whom you seek is as if all returned: [so] all the people shall be in peace.

Psalms 64:2-5 WEB

Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, From the noisy crowd of the ones doing evil; Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And aim their arrows, deadly words, To shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly. They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, "Who will see them?"

Psalms 62:3-4 WEB

How long will you assault a man, Would all of you throw him down, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.

Luke 20:19-22 WEB

The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on Him that very hour, but they feared the people--for they knew He had spoken this parable against them. 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?"

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.