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A Prayer in Time of Sickness

A psalm of David ·to remember [or for the memorial offering].

38 Lord, don’t ·correct [rebuke; reprove] me when you are angry.
Don’t ·punish [discipline] me when you are ·furious [enraged; 6:1].

Your arrows have ·wounded [pierced] me,
    and your hand has come down on me.
My ·body [flesh] is ·sick [L not sound] from your ·punishment [L indignation].
    Even my bones are not healthy because of my sin.
My guilt has ·overwhelmed me [L passed over my head];
    like a ·load [burden] it ·weighs me down [is too heavy for me].

My sores stink and become infected
    because I was foolish.
I am bent over and bowed down;
    I ·am sad [L walk around mourning] all day long.
·I am burning with fever [L My loins are burned with fever],
    and my ·whole body [flesh] is ·sore [L not sound].
I am weak and ·faint [L completely crushed].
    I ·moan [groan] from the ·pain I feel [L anguish of my heart].

Lord, you know everything I ·want [desire; long for];
    my ·cries [sighs] are not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds, and my strength ·is gone [abandons/forsakes me].
    ·I am losing my sight [L The light of my eyes is not with me].
11 Because of my wounds, ·my friends [L those who love me] and neighbors ·avoid [L stand away from] me,
    and my relatives ·stay [L stand] far away.
12 ·Some people set traps to kill me [L Those who seek my life set traps for me].
    Those who ·want [seek] to ·hurt [harm; trouble] me plan trouble;
all day long they ·think up [meditate on] ·lies [deception].

13 I am like the deaf; I cannot hear.
    Like the mute, I cannot ·speak [open my mouth].
14 I am like those who do not hear,
    who have no ·answer [reproof] ·to give [L in their mouth].
15 I ·trust [hope in; wait for] you, Lord.
    You will answer, my Lord and God.
16 I said, “Don’t let them ·laugh at [rejoice in] me
    or ·brag [boast] when ·I am defeated [L my foot totters/slips].”
17 I am ·about to die [L ready to stumble],
    and ·I cannot forget my pain [L my pain is constantly with me].
18 I confess my guilt;
    I am troubled by my sin.
19 My ·enemies are strong and [L living enemies are] healthy,
    and many hate me for no reason.
20 They repay me with evil for the good I did.
    They ·lie about me [L are my accusers/adversaries] because I ·try to do [L pursued] good.

21 Lord, don’t ·leave [abandon; forsake] me;
    my God, don’t ·go away [be far from me].
22 Quickly come and help me,
    my Lord and Savior.

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