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 bring to remembrance.” O LORD! rebuke me not in thy wrath, Nor chasten me in thy hot displeasure!

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

For thine arrows have deeply pierced me, And thy hand hath been heavy 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 soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger; Nor rest 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 iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden, they are more than I can bear.

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

My wounds putrefy and are loathsome on account of my folly.

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

I am bent; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

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

For my loins are full of burning heat, And there is no soundness in my flesh.

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

I am weakened and bruised exceedingly; I roar by reason of the disquietude of my heart.

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

O Lord! thou knowest all my desire, 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 panteth; my strength faileth me; The very light of my eyes is gone from me.

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

My friends and acquaintance keep aloof from my woe, And my kinsmen stand 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 who seek my life lay snares for me; They who seek my hurt threaten destruction, And meditate deceit 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, like a deaf man, hear not; And, like a dumb man, open not my mouth.

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

I am like one who heareth nothing, And in whose mouth is no reply.

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

For in thee, O LORD! do I put my trust; 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 have prayed, “Let them not rejoice over me; Let them not exult at the slipping of my feet!”

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

For I am ready to fall, And my pain doth never leave me;

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

For I confess my iniquity, And am troubled on account of my sin.

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

But my enemies flourish and are strong; They who hate me without cause are multiplied.

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

They who repay good with evil are my enemies, Because I follow that which is good.

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

Forsake me not, O LORD! O my God! be not far from me!

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

Make hast to mine aid, O Lord, my salvation!