37 Heb “and he conceives harm and gives birth to a lie.” Pregnant with wickedness … gives birth to harmful lies. The psalmist metaphorically pictures the typical sinner as a pregnant woman, who is ready to give birth to wicked, destructive schemes and actions.
38 Heb “a pit he digs and he excavates it.” Apparently the imagery of hunting is employed; the wicked sinner digs this pit to entrap and destroy his intended victim. The redundancy in the Hebrew text has been simplified in the translation.
39 The verb forms in vv. 15–16 describe the typical behavior and destiny of those who attempt to destroy others. The image of the evildoer falling into the very trap he set for his intended victim emphasizes the appropriate nature of God’s judgment.
40 Heb “his harm [i.e., the harm he conceived for others, see v. 14] returns on his head.”
41 Heb “and on his forehead his violence [i.e., the violence he intended to do to others] comes down.”

In other versions

Behold, the wicked man conceives evil

and is pregnant with mischief

and gives birth to lies.

He makes a pit, digging it out,

and falls into the hole that he has made.

His mischief returns upon his own head,

and on his own skull his violence descends.

Whoever is pregnant with evil

conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.

Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out

falls into the pit they have made.

The trouble they cause recoils on them;

their violence comes down on their own heads.

See, the wicked one is pregnant with evil,

conceives trouble, and gives birth to deceit.

He dug a pit and hollowed it out

but fell into the hole he had made.

His trouble comes back on his own head;

his own violence comes down on top of his head.

The wicked conceive evil;

they are pregnant with trouble

and give birth to lies.

They dig a deep pit to trap others,

then fall into it themselves.

The trouble they make for others backfires on them.

The violence they plan falls on their own heads.

See, he travails with evil.

He is pregnant with trouble,

and he gives birth to deception.

He makes a pit and digs it out,

then falls in the trap he has made.

His trouble comes back on his head,

and his violence comes down on his skull.

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity,

And hath conceived mischief,

And brought forth falsehood.

He made a pit, and digged it,

And is fallen into the ditch which he made.

His mischief shall return upon his own head,

And his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

Public Domain