¹² Those who have a desire to take my life put nets for me; those who are designing my destruction say evil things against me, all the day their minds are full of deceit.

²⁰ For they do not say words of peace; in their deceit they are designing evil things against the quiet ones in the land.

⁵ The men of pride have put secret cords for my feet; stretching nets in my way, so that they may take me with their tricks. (Selah.)

⁹ Keep me from the net which they have put down for me, and from the designs of the workers of evil.

² Keep me safe from the secret purpose of wrongdoers; from the band of the workers of evil;

³ Who make their tongues sharp like a sword, and whose arrows are pointed, even bitter words;

⁴ So that in secret they may let loose their arrows at the upright, suddenly and unseen.

⁵ They make themselves strong in an evil purpose; they make holes for secret nets; they say, Who will see it,

⁴ Let them be overcome and put to shame who make attempts to take my soul; let those who would do me damage be turned back and made foolish.

¹ Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, Let me take out twelve thousand men and this very night I will go after David:

² And I will come up with him when he is tired and feeble, and make him full of fear: and all the people with him will go in flight; and I will make an attack on the king only:

³ And I will make all the people come back to you as a bride comes back to her husband: it is the life of only one man you are going after; so all the people will be at peace.

⁷ And Shimei said, with curses, Be gone, be gone, you man of blood, you good-for-nothing:

⁸ The Lord has sent punishment on you for all the blood of the family of Saul, whose kingdom you have taken; and the Lord has given the kingdom to Absalom, your son: now you yourself are taken in your evil, because you are a man of blood.

¹⁹ And the chief priests and the scribes made attempts to get their hands on him in that very hour; and they were in fear of the people, for they saw that he had made up this story against them.

²⁰ And they kept watch on him, and sent out secret representatives, who were acting the part of good men, in order that they might get something from his words, on account of which they might give him up to the government and into the power of the ruler.

²¹ And they put a question to him, saying, Master, we are certain that your teaching and your words are right, and that you have no respect for a man's position, but you are teaching the true way of God:

²² Is it right for us to make payment of taxes to Caesar or not?

¹¹⁰ Sinners have put a net to take me; but I was true to your orders.

³ How long will you go on designing evil against a man? running against him as against a broken wall, which is on the point of falling?

⁴ Their only thought is to put him down from his place of honour; their delight is in deceit: blessing is in their mouths but cursing in their hearts. (Selah.)

³ For men who are going after me have come out against me, violent men are purposing to take my soul; they have not put God before their eyes. (Selah.)

⁹ He keeps himself in a secret place like a lion in his hole, waiting to put his hands on the poor man, and pulling him into his net.