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 Lord, all my longing is before You, and my sighing is not hidden from You. 11My heart pounds, my strength fails me. The light of my eyes—also, not with me. My friends and my companions stay away from my wound, and my kinsmen stand far off. 13They who seek my life set traps. Those who seek my hurt threaten destruction, uttering lies all day. 14But I, like someone deaf, hear nothing, like a mute, not opening his mouth.

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 10:9He lurks in a hiding place like a lion in a thicket. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the unfortunate one, dragging him away in his net.
• Psalms 64:2Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint. Protect my life from terror of the enemy.
• Psalms 119:110The wicked have set a snare for me, yet I did not stray from Your precepts.
• Psalms 140:5Keep me safe, Adonai, from the clutches of the wicked. Protect me from the man of violence who planned to push me off my feet.
• Psalms 141:9Keep me from the jaws of the trap they have laid for me, and from the snares of the evildoers.
• 2 Samuel 17:1Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me now choose 12,000 men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.
• Luke 20:19The Torah scholars and the ruling kohanim tried to grab Him that very hour, because they realized that He spoke this parable against them—but they feared the people.
• Psalms 35:20For they never speak shalom, but devise deceitful words against the quiet ones in the land.
• Psalms 62:3He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress—I will never be moved.
• 2 Samuel 16:7Thus Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out! The man of bloodshed, the good-for-nothing!
• Luke 20:21And they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You tell it straight and You teach it straight. You show no partiality, but teach the way of God according to 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