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Psalm 38-41
New Living Translation
Psalm 38-41
New Living Translation
Psalm 38
A psalm of David, asking God to remember him.
1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your rage!
2 Your arrows have struck deep,
and your blows are crushing me.
3 Because of your anger, my whole body is sick;
my health is broken because of my sins.
4 My guilt overwhelms me—
it is a burden too heavy to bear.
5 My wounds fester and stink
because of my foolish sins.
6 I am bent over and racked with pain.
All day long I walk around filled with grief.
7 A raging fever burns within me,
and my health is broken.
8 I am exhausted and completely crushed.
My groans come from an anguished heart.
9 You know what I long for, Lord;
you hear my every sigh.
10 My heart beats wildly, my strength fails,
and I am going blind.
11 My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease.
Even my own family stands at a distance.
12 Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me.
Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me.
All day long they plan their treachery.
13 But I am deaf to all their threats.
I am silent before them as one who cannot speak.
14 I choose to hear nothing,
and I make no reply.
15 For I am waiting for you, O Lord.
You must answer for me, O Lord my God.
16 I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me
or rejoice at my downfall.”
17 I am on the verge of collapse,
facing constant pain.
18 But I confess my sins;
I am deeply sorry for what I have done.
19 I have many aggressive enemies;
they hate me without reason.
20 They repay me evil for good
and oppose me for pursuing good.
21 Do not abandon me, O Lord.
Do not stand at a distance, my God.
22 Come quickly to help me,
O Lord my savior.
Psalm 39
For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 I said to myself, “I will watch what I do
and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue
when the ungodly are around me.”
2 But as I stood there in silence—
not even speaking of good things—
the turmoil within me grew worse.
3 The more I thought about it,
the hotter I got,
igniting a fire of words:
4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude
6 We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
8 Rescue me from my rebellion.
Do not let fools mock me.
9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.
10 But please stop striking me!
I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
11 When you discipline us for our sins,
you consume like a moth what is precious to us.
Each of us is but a breath. Interlude
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord!
Listen to my cries for help!
Don’t ignore my tears.
For I am your guest—
a traveler passing through,
as my ancestors were before me.
13 Leave me alone so I can smile again
before I am gone and exist no more.
Psalm 40
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
5 O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.
6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand[a]—
you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
7 Then I said, “Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:
8 I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart.”
9 I have told all your people about your justice.
I have not been afraid to speak out,
as you, O Lord, well know.
10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
11 Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles surround me—
too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
I have lost all courage.
13 Please, Lord, rescue me!
Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
14 May those who try to destroy me
be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
be turned back in disgrace.
15 Let them be horrified by their shame,
for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”
16 But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,
let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay.
Psalm 41
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!
The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.
2 The Lord protects them
and keeps them alive.
He gives them prosperity in the land
and rescues them from their enemies.
3 The Lord nurses them when they are sick
and restores them to health.
4 “O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me.
Heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 But my enemies say nothing but evil about me.
“How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask.
6 They visit me as if they were my friends,
but all the while they gather gossip,
and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.
7 All who hate me whisper about me,
imagining the worst.
8 “He has some fatal disease,” they say.
“He will never get out of that bed!”
9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely,
the one who shared my food, has turned against me.
10 Lord, have mercy on me.
Make me well again, so I can pay them back!
11 I know you are pleased with me,
for you have not let my enemies triumph over me.
12 You have preserved my life because I am innocent;
you have brought me into your presence forever.
13 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who lives from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and amen!
Psalm 38-41
New International Version
Psalm 38-41
New International Version
Psalm 38[a]
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.(A)
2 Your arrows(B) have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health(C) in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones(D) because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed(E) me
like a burden too heavy to bear.(F)
5 My wounds(G) fester and are loathsome(H)
because of my sinful folly.(I)
6 I am bowed down(J) and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.(K)
7 My back is filled with searing pain;(L)
there is no health(M) in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;(N)
I groan(O) in anguish of heart.(P)
9 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)
Psalm 39[c]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 I said, “I will watch my ways(AR)
and keep my tongue from sin;(AS)
I will put a muzzle on my mouth(AT)
while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,(AU)
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(AV) increased;
3 my heart grew hot(AW) within me.
While I meditated,(AX) the fire(AY) burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;(AZ)
let me know how fleeting(BA) my life is.(BB)
5 You have made my days(BC) a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,(BD)
even those who seem secure.[d]
6 “Surely everyone goes around(BE) like a mere phantom;(BF)
in vain they rush about,(BG) heaping up wealth(BH)
without knowing whose it will finally be.(BI)
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.(BJ)
8 Save me(BK) from all my transgressions;(BL)
do not make me the scorn(BM) of fools.
9 I was silent;(BN) I would not open my mouth,(BO)
for you are the one who has done this.(BP)
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow(BQ) of your hand.(BR)
11 When you rebuke(BS) and discipline(BT) anyone for their sin,
you consume(BU) their wealth like a moth(BV)—
surely everyone is but a breath.(BW)
12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;(BX)
do not be deaf(BY) to my weeping.(BZ)
I dwell with you as a foreigner,(CA)
a stranger,(CB) as all my ancestors were.(CC)
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”(CD)
Psalm 40[e](CE)
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 I waited patiently(CF) for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.(CG)
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,(CH)
out of the mud(CI) and mire;(CJ)
he set my feet(CK) on a rock(CL)
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song(CM) in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord(CN)
and put their trust(CO) in him.
4 Blessed is the one(CP)
who trusts in the Lord,(CQ)
who does not look to the proud,(CR)
to those who turn aside to false gods.[f](CS)
5 Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders(CT) you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare(CU) with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many(CV) to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—(CW)
but my ears you have opened[g]—(CX)
burnt offerings(CY) and sin offerings[h] you did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.[i](CZ)
8 I desire to do your will,(DA) my God;(DB)
your law is within my heart.”(DC)
9 I proclaim your saving acts(DD) in the great assembly;(DE)
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.(DF)
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness(DG) and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.(DH)
11 Do not withhold your mercy(DI) from me, Lord;
may your love(DJ) and faithfulness(DK) always protect(DL) me.
12 For troubles(DM) without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.(DN)
They are more than the hairs of my head,(DO)
and my heart fails(DP) within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.(DQ)
14 May all who want to take my life(DR)
be put to shame and confusion;(DS)
may all who desire my ruin(DT)
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”(DU)
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you(DV)
rejoice and be glad(DW) in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”(DX)
17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;(DY)
may the Lord think(DZ) of me.
You are my help(EA) and my deliverer;(EB)
you are my God, do not delay.(EC)
Psalm 41[j]
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Blessed(ED) are those who have regard for the weak;(EE)
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.(EF)
2 The Lord protects(EG) and preserves them—(EH)
they are counted among the blessed in the land—(EI)
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.(EJ)
3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed(EK)
and restores them from their bed of illness.(EL)
4 I said, “Have mercy(EM) on me, Lord;
heal(EN) me, for I have sinned(EO) against you.”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die and his name perish?(EP)”
6 When one of them comes to see me,
he speaks falsely,(EQ) while his heart gathers slander;(ER)
then he goes out and spreads(ES) it around.
7 All my enemies whisper together(ET) against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,
8 “A vile disease has afflicted him;
he will never get up(EU) from the place where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend,(EV)
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned[k] against me.(EW)
Footnotes
- Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
- Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies
- Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
- Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.
- Psalm 40:1 In Hebrew texts 40:1-17 is numbered 40:2-18.
- Psalm 40:4 Or to lies
- Psalm 40:6 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts but a body you have prepared for me
- Psalm 40:6 Or purification offerings
- Psalm 40:7 Or come / with the scroll written for me
- Psalm 41:1 In Hebrew texts 41:1-13 is numbered 41:2-14.
- Psalm 41:9 Hebrew has lifted up his heel
Psalm 53
New Living Translation
Psalm 53
New Living Translation
Psalm 53
For the choir director: A meditation; a psalm[a] of David.
1 Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!
2 God looks down from heaven
on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
if anyone seeks God.
3 But no, all have turned away;
all have become corrupt.[b]
No one does good,
not a single one!
4 Will those who do evil never learn?
They eat up my people like bread
and wouldn’t think of praying to God.
5 Terror will grip them,
terror like they have never known before.
God will scatter the bones of your enemies.
You will put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
6 Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?
When God restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.
Psalm 53
New International Version
Psalm 53
New International Version
Psalm 53[a](A)
For the director of music. According to mahalath.[b] A maskil[c] of David.
1 The fool(B) says in his heart,
“There is no God.”(C)
They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
there is no one who does good.
2 God looks down from heaven(D)
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,(E)
any who seek God.(F)
3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.(G)
4 Do all these evildoers know nothing?
They devour my people as though eating bread;
they never call on God.
5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,
where there was nothing to dread.(H)
God scattered the bones(I) of those who attacked you;(J)
you put them to shame,(K) for God despised them.(L)
6 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When God restores his people,
let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
Footnotes
- Psalm 53:1 In Hebrew texts 53:1-6 is numbered 53:2-7.
- Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 53:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.