Psalm 38

1 O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thy wrath; Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, And thy hand presseth me sore.

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine indignation; Neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

4 For mine iniquities are gone over my head: As a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, Because of my foolishness.

6 I am pained and bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

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

8 I am faint and sore bruised: I have groaned by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; And my groaning is not hid from thee.

10 My heart throbbeth, my strength faileth me: As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague; And my kinsmen stand afar off.

12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me; And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, And meditate deceits all the day long.

13 But I, as a deaf man, hear not; And I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

14 Yea, I am as a man that heareth not, And in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15 For in thee, O Jehovah, do I hope: Thou wilt answer, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, Lest they rejoice over me: When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

17 For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me.

18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

19 But mine enemies are lively, and are strong; And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

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

21 Forsake me not, O Jehovah: O my God, be not far from me.

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

Psalm 38

A psalm of David, written to get God’s attention.

1 O Lord, do not continue to rebuke me in your anger!
Do not continue to punish me in your raging fury!

2 For your arrows pierce me,
and your hand presses me down.

3 My whole body is sick because of your judgment;
I am deprived of health because of my sin.

4 For my sins overwhelm me;
like a heavy load, they are too much for me to bear.

5 My wounds are infected and starting to smell,
because of my foolish sins.

6 I am dazed and completely humiliated;
all day long I walk around mourning.

7 For I am overcome with shame
and my whole body is sick.

8 I am numb with pain and severely battered;
I groan loudly because of the anxiety I feel.

9 O Lord, you understand my heart’s desire;
my groaning is not hidden from you.

10 My heart beats quickly;
my strength leaves me;
I can hardly see.

11 Because of my condition, even my friends and acquaintances keep their distance;
my neighbors stand far away.

12 Those who seek my life try to entrap me;
those who want to harm me speak destructive words;
all day long they say deceitful things.

13 But I am like a deaf man – I hear nothing;
I am like a mute who cannot speak.

14 I am like a man who cannot hear
and is incapable of arguing his defense.

15 Yet I wait for you, O Lord!
You will respond, O Lord, my God!

16 I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me;
when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me.

17 For I am about to stumble,
and I am in constant pain.

18 Yes, I confess my wrongdoing,
and I am concerned about my sins.

19 But those who are my enemies for no reason are numerous;
those who hate me without cause outnumber me.

20 They repay me evil for the good I have done;
though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me.

21 Do not abandon me, O Lord!
My God, do not remain far away from me!

22 Hurry and help me, O Lord, my deliverer!