Psalms 38
1 A Psalm. Of David. To keep in memory. O Lord, be not bitter with me in your wrath; let not your hand be on me in the heat of your passion.
A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2 For your arrows have gone into my flesh, and I am crushed under the weight of your hand.
For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
3 My flesh is wasted because of your wrath; and there is no peace in my bones because of my sin.
[There is] no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither [is there any] rest in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my crimes have gone over my head; they are like a great weight which is more than my strength.
For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds are poisoned and evil-smelling, because of my foolish behaviour.
My wounds stink [and] are corrupt because of my foolishness.
6 I am troubled, I am made low; I go weeping all the day.
I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
7 For my body is full of burning; all my flesh is unhealthy.
For my loins are filled with a loathsome [disease: ] and [there is] no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed down; I gave a cry like a lion because of the grief in my heart.
I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
9 Lord, all my desire is before you; my sorrow is not kept secret from you.
Lord, all my desire [is] before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
10 My heart goes out in pain, my strength is wasting away; as for the light of my eyes, it is gone from me.
My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
11 My lovers and my friends keep away from my disease; my relations keep far away.
My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
12 Those who have a desire to take my life put nets for me; those who are designing my destruction say evil things against me, all the day their minds are full of deceit.
They also that seek after my life lay snares [for me: ] and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
13 But I kept my ears shut like a man without hearing; like a man without a voice, never opening his mouth.
But I, as a deaf [man], heard not; and [I was] as a dumb man [that] openeth not his mouth.
14 So I was like a man whose ears are shut, and in whose mouth there are no sharp words.
Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth [are] no reproofs.
15 In you, O Lord, is my hope: you will give me an answer, O Lord, my God.
For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
16 I said, Let them not be glad over me; when my foot is moved, let them not be lifted up with pride against me.
For I said, [Hear me], lest [otherwise] they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify [themselves] against me.
17 My feet are near to falling, and my sorrow is ever before me.
For I [am] ready to halt, and my sorrow [is] continually before me.
18 I will make clear my wrongdoing, with sorrow in my heart for my sin.
For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
19 But they are strong who have hate for me without cause: those who are against me falsely are increased in numbers.
But mine enemies [are] lively, [and] they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
20 They give me back evil for good; they are my haters because I go after the thing which is right.
They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow [the thing that] good [is].
21 Do not give me up, O Lord; O my God, be near to me.
Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
22 Come quickly to give me help, O Lord, my salvation.
Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.
