Prayer of a Suffering Penitent.

A Psalm of David, for a memorial.

38 Lord, (A)do not rebuke me in Your wrath,
And do not punish me in Your burning anger.
For Your (B)arrows have sunk deep into me,
And (C)Your hand has pressed down on me.
There is (D)no healthy part in my flesh (E)because of Your indignation;
There is no health (F)in my bones because of my sin.
For my (G)guilty deeds have gone over my head;
Like a heavy burden they weigh too much for me.
My [a]wounds grow foul and fester
Because of (H)my foolishness.
I am bent over and (I)greatly bowed down;
I (J)go in mourning all day long.
For my [b]sides are filled with (K)burning,
And there is (L)no healthy part in my flesh.
I feel (M)faint and [c]badly crushed;
I [d](N)groan because of the [e]agitation of my heart.

Lord, all (O)my desire is [f]before You;
And my (P)sighing is not hidden from You.
10 My heart throbs, (Q)my strength fails me;
And the (R)light of my eyes, even [g]that [h]has gone from me.
11 My [i](S)loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague;
And my kinsmen (T)stand far away.
12 Those who (U)seek my life (V)lay snares for me;
And those who (W)seek to injure me have [j]threatened destruction,
And they (X)plot deception all day long.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 38:5 Or stripes
  2. Psalm 38:7 Lit loins
  3. Psalm 38:8 Or greatly
  4. Psalm 38:8 Lit roar
  5. Psalm 38:8 Lit growling
  6. Psalm 38:9 Or known to You
  7. Psalm 38:10 Lit they have
  8. Psalm 38:10 Lit is not with me
  9. Psalm 38:11 Or lovers
  10. Psalm 38:12 Lit spoken

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