Psalm 38

A Psalm by David, for a memorial.

¹ Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.

² For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me.

³ There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

⁴ For my iniquities have 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 in pain and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long.

⁷ For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh.

⁸ I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.

⁹ 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 give 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.