Psalms 38

1 A PSALM OF DAVID. “TO CAUSE TO REMEMBER.” YHWH, do not reprove me in Your wrath, Nor discipline me in Your fury.

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 Your arrows have come down on me, And You let down Your hand on me.

For your arrows have gone into my flesh, and I am crushed under the weight of your hand.

3 Soundness is not in my flesh, Because of Your indignation, Peace is not 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 my iniquities have passed over my head, As a heavy burden—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 Stunk—my wounds have become corrupt, Because of my folly.

My wounds are poisoned and evil-smelling, because of my foolish behaviour.

6 I have been bent down, I have been bowed down—to excess, I have gone mourning all the day.

I am troubled, I am made low; I go weeping all the day.

7 For my flanks have been full of drought, And soundness is not in my flesh.

For my body is full of burning; all my flesh is unhealthy.

8 I have been feeble and struck—to excess, I have roared from disquietude of 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 You, And my sighing has not been hid from You.

Lord, all my desire is before you; my sorrow is not kept secret from you.

10 My heart [is] panting, my power has forsaken me, And the light of my eyes, Even they are not with 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 lovers and my friends stand aloof from before my plague. And my neighbors have stood far off.

My lovers and my friends keep away from my disease; my relations keep far away.

12 And those seeking my soul lay a snare, And those seeking my evil Have spoken mischievous things, And they meditate [on] 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 And I, as deaf, do not hear. And as a mute one who does not open his mouth.

But I kept my ears shut like a man without hearing; like a man without a voice, never opening his mouth.

14 Indeed, I am as a man who does not hear, And in his mouth are no reproofs.

So I was like a man whose ears are shut, and in whose mouth there are no sharp words.

15 Because for You, O YHWH, I have waited, You answer, O Lord my God.

In you, O Lord, is my hope: you will give me an answer, O Lord, my God.

16 When I said, “Lest they rejoice over me, In the slipping of my foot they magnified 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 declare my iniquity, I am sorry for my sin.

I will make clear my wrongdoing, with sorrow in my heart for my sin.

19 And my enemies [are] lively, They have been strong, and those hating me without cause, Have been multiplied.

But they are strong who have hate for me without cause: those who are against me falsely are increased in numbers.

20 And those paying evil for good accuse me, Because of my pursuing good.

They give me back evil for good; they are my haters because I go after the thing which is right.

21 Do not forsake me, O YHWH, My God, do not be far from me,

Do not give me up, O Lord; O my God, be near to me.

22 Hurry to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

Come quickly to give me help, O Lord, my salvation.