Psalms 38

A Psalm by David, for a memorial.

¹LORD, don’t rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure. ²For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me. ³There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin. ⁴For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. ⁵My wounds are loathsome and corrupt because of my foolishness. ⁶I am in pain and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long. ⁷For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh. ⁸I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart. ⁹Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you. ¹⁰My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me. ¹¹My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away. ¹²They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long. ¹³But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth. ¹⁴Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs. ¹⁵For I hope in you, LORD. You will answer, Lord my God. ¹⁶For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.” ¹⁷For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me. ¹⁸For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin. ¹⁹But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous. ²⁰They who give evil for good are also adversaries to me, because I follow what is good. ²¹Don’t forsake me, LORD. My God, don’t be far from me. ²²Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.