< Psalms 38 >

1 A Psalm of David, to make memorial. O LORD, rebuke me not in Thine anger; neither chasten me in Thy wrath.
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.
2 For Thine arrows are gone deep into me, and Thy hand is come down upon me.
For your arrows have gone into my flesh, and I am crushed under the weight of your hand.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of Thine indignation; neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.
My flesh is wasted because of your wrath; and there is no peace 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.
For my crimes have gone over my head; they are like a great weight which is more than my strength.
5 My wounds are noisome, they fester, because of my foolishness.
My wounds are poisoned and evil-smelling, because of my foolish behaviour.
6 I am bent and bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day.
I am troubled, I am made low; I go weeping all the day.
7 For my loins are filled with burning; and there is no soundness in my flesh.
For my body is full of burning; all my flesh is unhealthy.
8 I am benumbed and sore crushed; I groan by reason of the moaning of my heart.
I am feeble and crushed down; I gave a cry like a lion because of the grief in my heart.
9 Lord, all my desire is before Thee; and my sighing is not hid from Thee.
Lord, all my desire is before you; my sorrow is not kept secret from you.
10 My heart fluttereth, my strength faileth me; as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
My heart goes out in pain, my strength is wasting away; as for the light of my eyes, it is gone from me.
11 My friends and my companions stand aloof from my plague; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
My lovers and my friends keep away from my disease; my relations keep far away.
12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me; and they that seek my hurt speak crafty devices, and utter deceits all the day.
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.
13 But I am as a deaf man, I hear not; and I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
But I kept my ears shut like a man without hearing; like a man without a voice, never opening his mouth.
14 Yea, I am become as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no arguments.
So I was like a man whose ears are shut, and in whose mouth there are no sharp words.
15 For in Thee, O LORD, do I hope; Thou wilt answer, O Lord my God.
In you, O Lord, is my hope: you will give me an answer, O Lord, my God.
16 For I said: 'Lest they rejoice over me; when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.'
I said, Let them not be glad over me; when my foot is moved, let them not be lifted up with pride against me.
17 For I am ready to halt, and my pain is continually before me.
My feet are near to falling, and my sorrow is ever before me.
18 For I do declare mine iniquity; I am full of care because of my sin.
I will make clear my wrongdoing, with sorrow in my heart for my sin.
19 But mine enemies are strong in health; and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
But they are strong who have hate for me without cause: those who are against me falsely are increased in numbers.
20 They also that repay evil for good are adversaries unto me, because I follow the thing that is good.
They give me back evil for good; they are my haters because I go after the thing which is right.
21 Forsake me not, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me.
Do not give me up, O Lord; O my God, be near to me.
22 Make haste to help me, O LORD, my salvation.
Come quickly to give me help, O Lord, my salvation.

< Psalms 38 >