The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
The sorrows of hell compassed me, х chebleey (H2256) Shª'owl (H7585)] - cords, noose of Sheol (Hades) enclosed me.
The snares of death prevented me, х moqsheey (H4170) maawet (H4194)] - snares of death, i:e., deadly dangers, came upon me unawares (by surprise). Death is represented in this verse as a hunter, from whose artful, well-laid toils the prey cannot escape. It is quite common for other poets, by allusions to the ancient manner of hunting, to represent death as entrapping persons in her nets, and encompassing them on every side (Stat., lib. 5:, Sylv. 1:, line 156; Horace, lib. 3:, ode 24:, line 8).