אֲפָפ֤וּנִי ׀ חֶבְלֵי־מָ֗וֶת וּמְצָרֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל מְצָא֑וּנִי צָרָ֖ה וְיָג֣וֹן אֶמְצָֽא׃
The cords of death compassed me, And the straits of the nether-world got hold upon me; I found trouble and sorrow.
Rashi on Psalms
bands of death Heb. חבלי, bands of enemies who sought to kill me.
Rashi on Psalms
[The expressions] חבלי מות, חבלי שאוֹל, are all an expression of bands, like (I Sam. 10:5): “a band of (חבל) prophets.”