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 for David, for a remembrance of the sabbath. Rebuke me not, O Lord, in thy indignation; nor chastise me in thy wrath.

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

For thy arrows are fastened in me: and thy hand hath been strong upon 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, because of thy wrath: there is no peace for 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 iniquities are gone over my head: and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon me.

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

My sores are putrified and corrupted, 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 am become miserable, and am bowed down even to the end: I walked sorrowful all the day long.

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

For my loins are 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 am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: I roared with the groaning of 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 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 hath left me, and the light of my eyes itself 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 have drawn near, and stood against me. And they that were near me 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.

And they that sought my soul used violence. And they that sought evils to me spoke vain things, and studied deceits all the day long.

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 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 became as a man that heareth not: and that hath no reproofs in his mouth.

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

For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped: thou wilt hear 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 rejoice over me: and whilst my feet are moved, they speak great things against me.

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

For I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is continually before me.

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

For I will declare my inequity: and I will think for 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 are stronger that I: and they hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

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

They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I followed goodness.

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

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

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

Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation.