Helaman 8:4

And those Judges were angry with him because he spake plain unto them concerning their secret works of darkness; nevertheless they durst not lay their own hands upon him; for they feared the people, lest they should cry out against them;

The judges were angry because Nephi told them about their secret evil plans. But they didn’t dare touch him. They were scared the people would get mad at them.

The judges were angry because he’d exposed their dark secrets. But they were afraid to touch him themselves—they feared the people would turn against them.