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Prayer in Time of Discipline.

A Psalm of David; to bring to remembrance.

38 O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath,
Nor discipline me in Your burning anger.

For Your arrows have sunk into me and penetrate deeply,
And Your hand has pressed down on me and greatly disciplined me.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation;
There is no health in my bones because of my sin.

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

My wounds are loathsome and foul
Because of my foolishness.

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

For my sides are filled with burning,
And there is no health in my flesh.

I am numb and greatly bruised [deadly cold and completely worn out];
I groan because 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 violently, my strength fails me;
And as for the light of my eyes, even that has also gone from me.
11 
My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague;
And my neighbors stand far away.(A)
12 
Those who seek my life lay snares for me,
And those who seek to injure me threaten mischievous things and destruction;
They devise treachery all the day long.

13 
But I, like a deaf man, do not hear;
I am like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 
Yes, I am like a man who does not hear,
In whose mouth are no arguments.
15 
For in You, O Lord, I hope;
You will answer, O Lord my God.
16 
For I pray, “May they not rejoice over me,
Who, when my foot slips, would boast against me.”
17 
For I am ready to fall;
My sorrow is continually before me.
18 
For I do confess my guilt and iniquity;
I am filled with anxiety because of my sin.(B)
19 
But my [numerous] enemies are vigorous and strong,
And those who hate me without cause are many.
20 
They repay evil for good, they attack and try to kill me,
Because I follow what is good.
21 
Do not abandon me, O Lord;
O my God, do not be far from me.
22 
Make haste to help me,
O 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