3The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
In this verse, the author names the life-threatening situation in which he finds himself. Although we do not know by what he was being threatened, it is clear that it was very serious. He says that the pangs of Sheol had a hold on him.
3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.