From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
From the wicked that oppress me, My deadly enemies, that compass me about.
From the evil-doers who are violent to me, and from those who are round me, desiring my death.
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who encompass me,
from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.
From the wicked that spoil me, my deadly enemies, that compass me about.
From my deadly enemies, who compass me about - This is a metaphor taken from huntsmen, who spread themselves around a large track of forest, driving in the deer from every part of the circumference, till they are forced into the nets or traps which they have set for them in some particular narrow passage. The metaphor is carried on in the following verses.
From the wicked that oppress me - Margin, "That waste me." The margin expresses the sense of the Hebrew. The idea is that of being wasted, desolated, destroyed, as a city or country is by the ravages of war. The psalmist compares himself in his troubles with such a city or country. The "effect" of the persecutions which he had endured had been like cities and lands thus laid waste by fire and sword.
From my deadly enemies - Margin, "My enemies against the soul." The literal idea is, "enemies against my life." The common translation expresses the idea accurately. The sense is, that his enemies sought his life.
Who compass me about - Who surround me on every side, as enemies do who besiege a city.