King James Bible
"The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid."
David describes being surrounded by death's grip, using imagery of cords or waves that encircle and trap their victim. This reflects his desperate circumstances when fleeing from Saul, where mortal danger pressed in from every side. The psalmist shifts to flood imagery, depicting his enemies as a destructive torrent of wickedness. In Hebrew thought, chaotic waters often symbolized overwhelming evil forces that threaten to sweep away the righteous. David openly acknowledges his fear, showing that even the future king experienced terror when confronted by seemingly insurmountable opposition. This honest admission sets up the psalm's later celebration of God's dramatic deliverance.