Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 140:5

"The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set gins for me. Selah" — Psalms 140:5 (ASV)

The proud have hid a snare for me - Haughty, arrogant, oppressive men. See Psalms 35:7, note; Psalms 57:6, note.

And cords - Strings, twine; like those who lay a net to catch birds and who intend to spring it upon them unawares.

They have spread a net by the wayside - Where I may be expected to walk, and where it may be suddenly sprung upon me.

They have set gins for me - Snares, toils—such as are set for wild beasts. The meaning is that they had not only made open war upon him, but they had also sought to lead him into an ambush—to rush upon him suddenly when he was not on his guard and did not know that danger was near.