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Psalm 38

A Psalm of David. To bring remembrance.

O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath,
    nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
For Your arrows pierce me,
    and Your hand presses down on me.
There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation,
    nor is there health in my bones because of my sin.
For my iniquities have passed over my head;
    as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

My wounds grow foul and fester
    because of my foolishness.
I am bent, I am bowed down greatly;
    I go mourning all the day long.
For my sides are filled with burning,
    and there is no soundness in my flesh.
I am numb and completely crushed;
    I have roared because of the groaning of my heart.

Lord, all my desire is before You,
    and my sighing is not hidden from You.
10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me;
    as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me.
11 My friends and my companions stand back because of my affliction,
    and those close to me stand at a distance.
12 The people who seek my life strike at me;
    those who seek my harm speak destruction,
    and plan treacheries all the day long.

13 But I, like a deaf man, did not hear;
    and like a dumb man, did not open my mouth.
14 Thus I was as a man who does not hear,
    and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15 For in You, O Lord, do I hope;
    You will answer, O Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Lest otherwise they should rejoice over me.
    When my foot slips, they magnify themselves against me.”

17 For I am ready to stumble,
    and my pain is continually before me.
18 For I will declare my iniquity;
    I am anxious because of my sin.
19 But my enemies are lively, and they are strong;
    and those who wrongfully hate me are many.
20 Those also who repay evil for good are my adversaries,
    because I pursue good.

21 Do not abandon me, O Lord;
    O my God, do not be far from me.
22 Make haste to help me,
    O Lord, my salvation.

Psalm 38[a]

A psalm of David. A petition.

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.(A)
Your arrows(B) have pierced me,
    and your hand has come down on me.
Because of your wrath there is no health(C) in my body;
    there is no soundness in my bones(D) because of my sin.
My guilt has overwhelmed(E) me
    like a burden too heavy to bear.(F)

My wounds(G) fester and are loathsome(H)
    because of my sinful folly.(I)
I am bowed down(J) and brought very low;
    all day long I go about mourning.(K)
My back is filled with searing pain;(L)
    there is no health(M) in my body.
I am feeble and utterly crushed;(N)
    I groan(O) in anguish of heart.(P)

All my longings(Q) lie open before you, Lord;
    my sighing(R) is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds,(S) my strength fails(T) me;
    even the light has gone from my eyes.(U)
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;(V)
    my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,(W)
    those who would harm me talk of my ruin;(X)
    all day long they scheme and lie.(Y)

13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,(Z)
    like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
    whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait(AA) for you;
    you will answer,(AB) Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat(AC)
    or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”(AD)

17 For I am about to fall,(AE)
    and my pain(AF) is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;(AG)
    I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies(AH) without cause[b];
    those who hate me(AI) without reason(AJ) are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil(AK)
    lodge accusations(AL) against me,
    though I seek only to do what is good.

21 Lord, do not forsake me;(AM)
    do not be far(AN) from me, my God.
22 Come quickly(AO) to help me,(AP)
    my Lord and my Savior.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
  2. Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies