Psalms 38

1 A Psalm of David, for remembrance. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.

A psalm of David, for a memorial. Lord, please don't condemn me because you're angry with me; don't punish me because you're furious with me!

2 For Your arrows have pierced me deeply, and Your hand has pressed down on me.

Your arrows have pierced me deeply, your hand has come down hard on me.

3 There is no soundness in my body because of Your anger; there is no rest in my bones because of my sin.

Because you're so upset with me, not a single part of my body is healthy; I am completely sick because of my sins.

4 For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.

I'm drowning in guilt—the burden is too heavy to bear.

5 My wounds are foul and festering because of my sinful folly.

My wounds are infected—they're smelling—all because of my stupidity.

6 I am bent and brought low; all day long I go about mourning.

I am bent over, doubled up in pain. The whole day I walk around crying my eyes out.

7 For my loins are full of burning pain, and no soundness remains in my body.

Inside I'm burning up with fever; no part of my body is healthy.

8 I am numb and badly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.

I'm worn out, totally down. I groan because of the anguish I feel in my heart.

9 O Lord, my every desire is before You; my groaning is not hidden from You.

Lord, you know what I desperately want, you hear every sigh I make.

10 My heart pounds, my strength fails, and even the light of my eyes has faded.

My heart is racing, leaving me with no strength; my eyesight is failing.

11 My beloved and friends shun my disease, and my kinsmen stand at a distance.

My loved ones and my friends don't come near me because they're afraid of what I've got. Even my family keeps me at a distance.

12 Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.

Those who are trying to kill me set traps for me; those who want to hurt me make threats against me, working on their deceitful schemes all day long.

13 But like a deaf man, I do not hear; and like a mute man, I do not open my mouth.

I act as if I'm deaf to what they're saying, and pretend to be dumb so I don't have to speak.

14 I am like a man who cannot hear, whose mouth offers no reply.

Like a man who can't hear, and who doesn't reply—that's me!

15 I wait for You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God.

For I'm waiting on you, Lord! You will answer for me, my Lord and my God.

16 For I said, “Let them not gloat over me— those who taunt me when my foot slips.”

I'm asking you, Lord, please don't let my enemies gloat over me, don't let them be glad when I trip up.

17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

For I'm about ready to collapse—the pain never stops.

18 Yes, I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

I do confess my sins; I am terribly sorry for what I've done.

19 Many are my enemies without cause, and many hate me without reason.

I have many powerful enemies—they are very active, hating me for no reason.

20 Those who repay my good with evil attack me for pursuing the good.

They pay me back evil for good; they accuse me for the good I try to do.

21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; be not far from me, O my God.

Don't give up on me, my Lord and my God, don't stay away from me.

22 Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

Hurry, come and help me, Lord my salvation.