Psalms 38:12

“They also that seek after my life, etc.] His avowed and implacable enemies, whom nothing would satisfy but the taking away of his life: these came too near him; for these, he says, lay snares [for me], as Satan does for the souls of men, as the Jews did for Christ, and as wicked men do for the saints, (<19C407>Psalm 124:7); and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things; to the injury of his character and reputation: and imagine deceits all the day long; contrive artful schemes to deceive; (see <193520>Psalm 35:20).”

“seek after my life-- (Sa1 20:1; Sa1 22:23).”

“They 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 Psalms 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 weak and helpless, and of the fact that he was forsaken or abandoned by his friends, to accomplish his ruin. how this was done is not stated. It might have been by their coming on him when he was thus helpless; or it might have been by…”

“Deceit - They design mischief, but cover it with fair pretences. Psalms 38:13”

“lay snares: Psa 10:9, Psa 64:2-5, Psa 119:110, Psa 140:5, Psa 141:9; Sa2 17:1-3; Luk 20:19, Luk 20:20 speak: Psa 35:20, Psa 62:3, Psa 62:4; Sa2 16:7, Sa2 16:8; Luk 20:21, Luk 20:22 Psalms 38:13”