5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the way-side; they have set traps for me. Selah.
For without cause have they hidden for me their net [in] a pit; without cause they have digged [it] for my soul.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then *thou* knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they hidden a snare for me.
They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down: they have digged a pit before me; they are fallen into the midst thereof. Selah.
Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that *I* withal pass over.
And having watched [him], they sent out suborned persons, pretending to be just men, that they might take hold of him in [his] language, so that they might deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. And they asked him saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest no [man's] person, but teachest with truth the way of God: Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not? But perceiving their deceit he said to them, Why do ye tempt me?
And as he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him urgently, and to make him speak of many things; watching him, [and seeking] to catch something out of his mouth, [that they might accuse him].
Shall evil be recompensed for good? For they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before thee to speak good for them, to turn away thy wrath from them.
A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his steps.
The gin taketh [him] by the heel, the snare layeth hold on him;
The wicked have laid a snare for me; but I have not wandered from thy precepts.
The proud have digged pits for me, which is not according to thy law.
Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.
Draw me out of the net that they have hidden for me; for thou art my strength.
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, From the wicked that destroy me, my deadly enemies, who compass me about. They are enclosed in their own fat; with their mouth they speak proudly. They have now encompassed us in our steps; their eyes have they set, bowing down to the earth. He is like a lion that is greedy of its prey, and as a young lion lurking in secret places. Arise, Jehovah, anticipate him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, thy sword;
The wicked [saith], in the haughtiness of his countenance, He doth not search out: all his thoughts are, There is no God! His ways always succeed; thy judgments are far above out of his sight; [as for] all his adversaries, he puffeth at them. He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved; from generation to generation I shall be in no adversity. His mouth is full of cursing, and deceit, and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and iniquity. He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; in the secret places doth he slay the innocent: his eyes watch for the wretched. He lieth in wait secretly, like a lion in his thicket; he lieth in wait to catch the afflicted: he doth catch the afflicted, drawing him into his net. He croucheth, he boweth down, that the wretched may fall by his strong ones. He saith in his heart, ùGod hath forgotten, he hideth his face, he will never see [it]. Arise, Jehovah; O ùGod, lift up thy hand: forget not the afflicted.
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,