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, in commemoration of the Sabbath. O Lord, do not rebuke me in your fury, nor chastise me in your wrath.

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

For your arrows have been driven into me, and your hand has been confirmed over me.

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

There is no health in my flesh before the face of your wrath. There is no peace for my bones before the face of my sins.

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

For my iniquities have walked over my head, and they have been like a heavy burden weighing upon me.

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

My sores have putrefied and been corrupted before the face 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 become miserable, and I have been bent down, even to the end. I have walked with contrition all day long.

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

For my loins have been filled with illusions, 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 greatly humbled. I bellowed from the groaning of my heart.

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

O Lord, all my desire is before you, and my groaning before you has not been hidden.

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

My heart has been disturbed. My strength has abandoned me, and the light of my eyes has abandoned me, and it 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 neighbors have drawn near and stood against me. And those who were next to me stood far apart. And those who sought my soul used violence.

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.

And those who sought evil accusations against me were speaking emptiness. And they practiced deceitfulness all day long.

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

But, like someone deaf, I did not hear. And I was like someone mute, not opening his mouth.

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

And I became like a man who does not hear, and who has no reproofs in his mouth.

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

For in you, Lord, I have hoped. You will listen to me, 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 at any time, my enemies might rejoice over me,” and, “While my feet are being shaken, they have spoken great things against me.”

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

For I have been prepared for scourges, and my sorrow is ever before me.

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

For I will announce my iniquity, and I will think about my sin.

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

But my enemies live, and they have been stronger than me. And those who have wrongfully hated me have been multiplied.

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

Those who render evil for good have dragged me down, because I followed goodness.

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

Do not forsake me, O Lord my God. Do not depart from me.

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

Be attentive to my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation.