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 for remembrance concerning the Sabbath-day. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath, neither chasten me in thine anger.

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

For thy weapons are fixed in me, and thou hast pressed thy hand heavily upon me.

3 Soundness is not in my flesh, Because of Your indignation, Peace is not in my bones, Because of my sin.

For there is no health in my flesh because of thine anger; there is no peace to my bones because of my sins.

4 For my iniquities have passed over my head, As a heavy burden—too heavy for me.

For my transgressions have gone over mine head: they have pressed heavily upon me like a weighty burden.

5 Stunk—my wounds have become corrupt, Because of my folly.

My bruises have become noisome and corrupt, because of my foolishness.

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

I have been wretched and bowed down continually: I went with a mourning countenance all the day.

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

For my soul is filled with mockings; and there is no health in my flesh.

8 I have been feeble and struck—to excess, I have roared from disquietude of heart.

I have been afflicted and brought down exceedingly: I have roared for the groaning of my heart.

9 Lord, all my desire [is] before You, And my sighing has not been hid from You.

But all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hidden from thee.

10 My heart [is] panting, my power has forsaken me, And the light of my eyes, Even they are not with me.

My heart is troubled, my strength has failed me; and the light of mine eyes is not with me.

11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from before my plague. And my neighbors have stood far off.

My friends and my neighbours drew near before me, and stood still; and my nearest of kin stood afar off.

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.

While they pressed hard upon me that sought my soul: and they that sought my hurt spoke vanities, and devised deceits all the day.

13 And I, as deaf, do not hear. And as a mute one who does not open his mouth.

But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and was as a dumb man not opening his mouth.

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

And I was as a man that hears not, and who has no reproofs in his mouth.

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

For I hoped in thee, O Lord: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

16 When I said, “Lest they rejoice over me, In the slipping of my foot they magnified themselves against me.”

For I said, Lest mine enemies rejoice against me: for when my feet were moved, they spoke boastingly against me.

17 For I am ready to halt, And my pain [is] continually before me.

For I am ready for plagues, and my grief is continually before me.

18 For I declare my iniquity, I am sorry for my sin.

For I will declare mine iniquity, and be distressed for my sin.

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

But mine enemies live, and are mightier than I: and they that hate me unjustly are multiplied.

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

They that reward evil for good slandered me; because I followed righteousness.

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

Forsake me not, O Lord my God: depart not from me.

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

Draw nigh to my help, O Lord of my salvation.