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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• 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.

Context of Psalms 38:12

10My heart beats wildly, my strength fails, and I am going blind. 11My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease. Even my own family stands at a distance. 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. 13But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak. 14I choose to hear nothing, and I make 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 lions crouched in hiding, they wait to pounce on the helpless. Like hunters they capture the helpless and drag them away in nets.
• Psalms 64:2Hide me from the plots of this evil mob, from this gang of wrongdoers.
• Psalms 119:110The wicked have set their traps for me, but I will not turn from your commandments.
• Psalms 140:5The proud have set a trap to catch me; they have stretched out a net; they have placed traps all along the way. Interlude
• Psalms 141:9Keep me from the traps they have set for me, from the snares of those who do wrong.
• 2 Samuel 17:1Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight.
• Luke 20:19The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the people’s reaction.
• Psalms 35:20They don’t talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business.
• Psalms 62:3So many enemies against one man— all of them trying to kill me. To them I’m just a broken-down wall or a tottering fence.
• 2 Samuel 16:7“Get out of here, you murderer, you scoundrel!” he shouted at David.
• Luke 20:21“Teacher,” they said, “we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully.

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