They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.
Parallel translations
- WEB They conspire and lurk, watching my steps, they are eager to take my life.
- KJV They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
- NKJV They gather together, They hide, they mark my steps, When they lie in wait for my life.
- NASB They attack, they lurk, They watch my steps, As they have waited to take my life.
- NLT They come together to spy on me— watching my every step, eager to kill me.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The enemies conspire, lurk, and watch David's steps, eager to kill him. It exposes their patient, murderous intent.
Overview
David describes foes who band together, hide, and track his movements, hungry for his life. The picture of stealthy plotting heightens the danger. Yet by laying it before God, David shows that even the most calculated schemes are seen and overruled by the Lord.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Ps 71:10For my enemies speak against me, and those who lie in wait for my life conspire,
- Ps 59:3See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.
- Ps 140:2who devise evil in their hearts and stir up war all day long.
- Acts 23:12–14When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
- Luke 20:20So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.
- Acts 4:5–6The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,
- Ps 2:1–3Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
- Ps 64:2–6Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity,
- Ps 57:6They spread a net for my feet; my soul was despondent. They dug a pit before me, but they themselves have fallen into it! Selah
- Ps 10:8–10He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless.
- Ps 89:51how Your enemies have taunted, O LORD, and have mocked every step of Your anointed one!
- Ps 37:32Though the wicked lie in wait for the righteous, and seek to slay them,
- Matt 26:57Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.
- Matt 27:1When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.
- Jer 20:10For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”
- Matt 26:3–4At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
- Isa 54:15If anyone attacks you, it is not from Me; whoever assails you will fall before you.
- Job 31:4Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
- Job 14:16For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.
- Dan 6:4Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 56:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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