Psalms 38:12

Psalms 38:12 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Those also who seek my life lay snares for me; Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction, And plan deception all the day long.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me. Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me. All day long they plan their treachery.

Context of Psalms 38:12

10My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes. 11My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie. 13I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute, who cannot speak; 14I have become like one who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply.

Psalms 38:12 word by word

וַיְנַקְשׁ֤וּ׀ מְבַקְשֵׁ֬י נַפְשִׁ֗י וְדֹרְשֵׁ֣י רָ֭עָתִי דִּבְּר֣וּ הַוּ֑וֹת וּ֝מִרְמ֗וֹת כָּל־הַיּ֥וֹם יֶהְגּֽוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• They also that seekבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
• after my lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• lay snaresנָקַשׁnâqash · to snareH5367
• and they that seekדָּרַשׁdârash · to seekH1875
• my hurtרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451
• speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• mischievous thingsהַוָּהhavvâh · desireH1942
• and imagineהָגָהhâgâh · to mutterH1897
• deceitsמִרְמָהmirmâh · deceitH4820
• all the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117

Cross-references for Psalms 38:12

• Psalms 10:9like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
• Psalms 64:2Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers.
• Psalms 119:110The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.
• Psalms 140:5The arrogant have hidden a snare for me; they have spread out the cords of their net and have set traps for me along my path.
• Psalms 141:9Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me.
• 2 Samuel 17:1Ahithophel said to Absalom, “I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
• Luke 20:19The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
• Psalms 35:20They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.
• Psalms 62:3How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down— this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
• 2 Samuel 16:7As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel!
• Luke 20:21So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

Commentaries on Psalms 38:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12They also that seek after my life - They act towards me as huntsmen after their prey; they lay snares to take away my life. Perhaps this means only that they wished for his death, and would have been glad to have had it in their power to end his days. Others spoke all manner of evil of him, and told falsities against him all the day long.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12They also that seek after my life - This was a new aggravation of his affliction, that those who were his enemies now sought to accomplish their purposes against him with better hopes of success, by taking advantage of his sickness. Lay snares for me - On the meaning of this phrase, see the notes at Psalm 9:15. The idea here is that they sought this opportunity of ensnaring or entrapping him so as to ruin him. They took advantage of the fact that he was…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-22Verses 12-22 Wicked men hate goodness, even when they benefit by it. David, in the complaints he makes of his enemies, seems to refer to Christ. But our enemies do us real mischief only when they drive us from God and our duty. The true believer's trouble will be made useful; he will learn to wait for his God, and will not seek relief from the world or himself. The less we notice the unkindness and injuries that are done us, the more we consult the quiet…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-12The psalmist wants to reconnect with God but feels distant. He feels lost and alone as his friends leave him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1211-12. Friends desert, but foes increase in malignity.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 38:12

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Character
• Conviction
• Deceit
• Homicide
• Slander

In the dictionaries

• Afar
• Arrow
• Deceit
• Fret
• Plague
• Bring
• Imagine
• Pentateuch
• Psalms, Book of
• Sick; Sickness

Commentaries on Psalms 38

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings