Psalms 118:12 (KJV)

Passage

They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

Nearby Context

Psalms 118:10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.

Psalms 118:11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

Psalms 118:12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.

Psalms 118:13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.

Psalms 118:14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "compassed", "like", "bees", "quenched", "fire", "thorns", "name", and "lord". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "compassed" and "like", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "They compassed me about yea they compassed..." into verse 13's "Thou hast thrust sore at me that...", so "compassed" and "like" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "compassed" and "like" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.