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)

Psalm 39[c]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

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.”
So I remained utterly silent,(AU)
    not even saying anything good.
But my anguish(AV) increased;
    my heart grew hot(AW) within me.
While I meditated,(AX) the fire(AY) burned;
    then I spoke with my tongue:

“Show me, Lord, my life’s end
    and the number of my days;(AZ)
    let me know how fleeting(BA) my life is.(BB)
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]

“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)

“But now, Lord, what do I look for?
    My hope is in you.(BJ)
Save me(BK) from all my transgressions;(BL)
    do not make me the scorn(BM) of fools.
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)

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
  3. Psalm 39:1 In Hebrew texts 39:1-13 is numbered 39:2-14.
  4. Psalm 39:5 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 11.

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