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A Psalm by David, for a memorial.

38 Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your wrath,
    neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.
For your arrows have pierced me,
    your hand presses hard on me.
There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation,
    neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.
For my iniquities have gone over my head.
    As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
My wounds are loathsome and corrupt
    because of my foolishness.
I am in pain and bowed down greatly.
    I go mourning all day long.
For my waist is filled with burning.
    There is no soundness in my flesh.
I am faint and severely bruised.
    I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.
Lord, all my desire is before you.
    My groaning is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs.
    My strength fails me.
    As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague.
    My kinsmen stand far away.
12 They also who seek after my life lay snares.
    Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things,
    and meditate deceits all day long.
13 But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear.
    I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth.
14 Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear,
    in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15 For I hope in you, Yahweh.
    You will answer, Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me,
    or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”
17 For I am ready to fall.
    My pain is continually before me.
18 For I will declare my iniquity.
    I will be sorry for my sin.
19 But my enemies are vigorous and many.
    Those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 They who render evil for good are also adversaries to me,
    because I follow what is good.
21 Don’t forsake me, Yahweh.
    My God, don’t be far from me.
22 Hurry to help me,
    Lord, my salvation.

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.

13 But I, like a person who is deaf, do not hear;
And I am like a (Y)person who cannot speak, who does not open his mouth.
14 Yes, I am like a person who does not hear,
And in whose mouth are no arguments.
15 For (Z)I wait for You, Lord;
You (AA)will answer, Lord my God.
16 For I said, “May they not rejoice over me,
Who, when my foot slips, (AB)would exalt themselves over me.”
17 For I am (AC)ready to fall,
And (AD)my [k]sorrow is continually before me.
18 For I (AE)admit my guilt;
I am full of (AF)anxiety because of my sin.
19 But my (AG)enemies are vigorous and [l]strong,
And those who wrongfully (AH)hate me are many.
20 And those who (AI)repay evil for good,
They (AJ)become my enemies, because I follow what is good.
21 Do not abandon me, Lord;
My God, (AK)do not be far from me!
22 (AL)Hurry to help me,
Lord, (AM)my salvation!

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
  11. Psalm 38:17 Lit pain
  12. Psalm 38:19 Or numerous