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Psalm 38

A Psalm of David; to bring to remembrance and make memorial.

O Lord, rebuke me not in Your wrath, neither chasten me in Your hot displeasure.

For Your arrows have sunk into me and stick fast, and Your hand has come down upon me and pressed me sorely.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; neither is there any health or rest in my bones because of my sin.

For my iniquities have gone over my head [like waves of a flood]; as a heavy burden they weigh too much for me.

My wounds are loathsome and corrupt because of my foolishness.

I am bent and bowed down greatly; I go about mourning all the day long.

For my loins are filled with burning; and there is no soundness in my flesh.

I am faint and sorely bruised [deadly cold and quite worn out]; I groan by reason of the disquiet and moaning 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 lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague; and my neighbors and my near ones stand afar off.(A)

12 They also that seek and demand my life lay snares for me, and they that seek and require my hurt speak crafty and mischievous things; they meditate treachery and deceit all the day long.

13 But I, like a deaf man, hear not; and I am like a dumb man who opens not his mouth.

14 Yes, I have become like a man who hears not, in whose mouth are no arguments or replies.

15 For in You, O Lord, do I hope; You will answer, O Lord my God.

16 For I pray, Let them not rejoice over me, who when my foot slips boast against me.

17 For I am ready to halt and fall; my pain and sorrow are continually before me.

18 For I do confess my guilt and iniquity; I am filled with sorrow for my sin.(B)

19 But my enemies are vigorous and strong, and those who hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

20 They also that render evil for good are adversaries to me, because I follow the thing that is good.

21 Forsake me not, O Lord; O my God, be not far from me.

22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my Salvation.

Psalm 38

A Penitent Sufferer’s Plea for Healing

A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.(A)
For your arrows have sunk into me,
    and your hand has come down on me.(B)

There is no soundness in my flesh
    because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones
    because of my sin.(C)
For my iniquities have gone over my head;
    they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.(D)

My wounds grow foul and fester
    because of my foolishness;(E)
I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
    all day long I go around mourning.(F)
For my loins are filled with burning,
    and there is no soundness in my flesh.(G)
I am utterly spent and crushed;
    I groan because of the tumult of my heart.(H)

O Lord, all my longing is known to you;
    my sighing is not hidden from you.(I)
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me;
    as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction,
    and my neighbors stand far off.(J)

12 Those who seek my life lay their snares;
    those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin
    and meditate on treachery all day long.(K)

13 But I am like the deaf; I do not hear;
    like the mute, who cannot speak.(L)
14 Truly, I am like one who does not hear
    and in whose mouth is no retort.

15 But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait;
    it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.(M)
16 For I pray, “Only do not let them rejoice over me,
    those who boast against me when my foot slips.”(N)

17 For I am ready to fall,
    and my pain is ever with me.(O)
18 I confess my iniquity;
    I am sorry for my sin.(P)
19 Those who are my foes without cause[a] are mighty,
    and many are those who hate me wrongfully.(Q)
20 Those who render me evil for good
    are my adversaries because I follow after good.(R)

21 Do not forsake me, O Lord;
    O my God, do not be far from me;(S)
22 make haste to help me,
    O Lord, my salvation.(T)

Footnotes

  1. 38.19 Q ms: MT my living foes