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. A lament. Reprove me not, Lord, in your anger, and chasten me not in your wrath;
2 For Your arrows have come down on me, And You let down Your hand on me.
for your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand lies heavy upon me.
3 Soundness is not in my flesh, Because of Your indignation, Peace is not in my bones, Because of my sin.
In my flesh is no soundness because of your anger, no health 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 that my guilt is gone over my head: it weighs like a burden too heavy for me.
5 Stunk—my wounds have become corrupt, Because of my folly.
My wounds stink and fester, for my foolishness I am tormented.
6 I have been bent down, I have been bowed down—to excess, I have gone mourning all the day.
Bent and bowed am I utterly, all the day going in mourning.
7 For my flanks have been full of drought, And soundness is not in my flesh.
My loins are filled with burning, and in my flesh is no soundness.
8 I have been feeble and struck—to excess, I have roared from disquietude of heart.
I am utterly crushed and numb; I cry louder than lion roars.
9 Lord, all my desire [is] before You, And my sighing has not been hid from You.
Lord, you know all that I long for, my groans are not hidden 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 is throbbing, my strength has failed me. The light of my eyes – even 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 dear ones and friends keep aloof, and my neighbors 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.
They who aim at my life lay their snares, they who seek my hurt speak of ruin, nursing treachery 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 turn a deaf ear and hear not; like the dumb I 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 without hearing, with no arguments in my mouth.
15 Because for You, O YHWH, I have waited, You answer, O Lord my God.
For my hope, O Lord, is in you. You will 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.”
when I utter the hope that those who made scorn of my tottering feet may not rejoice over me.
17 For I am ready to halt, And my pain [is] continually before me.
For I am ready to fall, my pain forsakes me never.
18 For I declare my iniquity, I am sorry for my sin.
I acknowledge my guilt, I am anxious because of my sin:
19 And my enemies [are] lively, They have been strong, and those hating me without cause, Have been multiplied.
My wanton assailants are strong, those who wrongfully hate me are many,
20 And those paying evil for good accuse me, Because of my pursuing good.
who render me evil for good, and oppose me, because I make good my goal.
21 Do not forsake me, O YHWH, My God, do not be far from me,
Do not forsake me, O Lord; my God, be not far from me.
22 Hurry to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
Hasten to help me, O Lord my savior.
