Psa 140:5 | KD | STEP | The course of this second strophe is exactly parallel with the first. The perfects describe their conduct hitherto, as a comparison of with shows. פּעמים is poetically equivalent to רגלים, and signifies both the foot that steps ( ; ) and the step that is made by the foot (Ps 85:14; ), and here the two senses are undistinguishable. They are called גּאים on account of the inordinate ambition that infatuates them. The metaphors taken from the life of the hunter ( ; ) are here brought together as it were into a body of synonyms. The meaning of ליד־מעגּל becomes explicable from ; ליד, at hand, is equivalent to “immediately beside” ( ; ). Close by the path along which he has to pass, lie gins ready to spring together and ensnare him when he appears.

‏ Psalms 140:5

The course of this second strophe is exactly parallel with the first. The perfects describe their conduct hitherto, as a comparison of Psa 140:3 with Psa 140:3 shows. פּעמים is poetically equivalent to רגלים, and signifies both the foot that steps (Psa 57:5; Psa 58:11) and the step that is made by the foot (Ps 85:14; Psa 119:133), and here the two senses are undistinguishable. They are called גּאים on account of the inordinate ambition that infatuates them. The metaphors taken from the life of the hunter (Psa 141:9; Psa 142:4) are here brought together as it were into a body of synonyms. The meaning of ליד־מעגּל becomes explicable from Psa 142:4; ליד, at hand, is equivalent to “immediately beside” (1Ch 18:17; Neh 11:24). Close by the path along which he has to pass, lie gins ready to spring together and ensnare him when he appears.