< Psalms 38 >
1 “A psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.” O Lord, correct me not in thy wrath, nor chastise me in thy fury.
A Psalm of David. A lament. Reprove me not, Lord, in your anger, and chasten me not in your wrath;
2 For thy arrows have penetrated into me, and thy hand presseth down upon me.
for your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand lies heavy upon me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thy indignation: there is no peace in my bones because of my sin.
In my flesh is no soundness because of your anger, no health in my bones, because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities are passed over my head, as a heavy burden are they too heavy for me.
For that my guilt is gone over my head: it weighs like a burden too heavy for me.
5 Foul, corrupt are my bruises because of my folly.
My wounds stink and fester, for my foolishness I am tormented.
6 I am bent double; I am bowed down to the utmost; all the day long I go about full of grief.
Bent and bowed am I utterly, all the day going in mourning.
7 For my loins are filled with a burning disease, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
My loins are filled with burning, and in my flesh is no soundness.
8 I am made faint and crushed to the utmost; I cry aloud because of the groaning of my heart.
I am utterly crushed and numb; I cry louder than lion roars.
9 Lord, before thee is all my longing; and my sighing is from thee not hidden.
Lord, you know all that I long for, my groans are not hidden from you.
10 My heart is restless, my strength hath left me; and the light of my eyes—that also is no more with me.
My heart is throbbing, my strength has failed me. The light of my eyes – even it is gone from me.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
My dear ones and friends keep aloof, and my neighbours stand afar off.
12 They also that seek after my life lay snares; and they that wish for my mishap speak wicked falsehoods; and deceits do they devise all the day long.
They who aim at my life lay their snares, they who seek my hurt speak of ruin, nursing treachery all the day long.
13 But I, as a deaf man, hear not; and I am as a dumb man that cannot open his mouth.
But I turn a deaf ear and hear not; like the dumb I open not my mouth.
14 Thus am I as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no words of defence.
I am like one without hearing, with no arguments in my mouth.
15 For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt answer, O Lord my God.
For my hope, O Lord, is in you. You will answer, O Lord my God,
16 For I said, Perhaps they might rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they might magnify themselves over me.
when I utter the hope that those who made scorn of my tottering feet may not rejoice over me.
17 For I am prepared for [my] downfall, and my pain is continually before me.
For I am ready to fall, my pain forsakes me never.
18 For I will tell of my iniquity; I will be grieved because of my sin.
I acknowledge my guilt, I am anxious because of my sin:
19 But my enemies are strong in life; and numerous are those that hate me wrongfully;
My wanton assailants are strong, those who wrongfully hate me are many,
20 They also that repay [me] evil in lieu of good; they hate me bitterly because I pursue what is good.
who render me evil for good, and oppose me, because I make good my goal.
21 Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me.
Do not forsake me, O Lord; my God, be not far from me.
22 Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.
Hasten to help me, O Lord my saviour.