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.
Yahweh, when you are angry [with me], do not rebuke/scold me and punish me!
2 For Your arrows have come down on me, And You let down Your hand on me.
[Now it is as though] you have shot your arrows at me and wounded me; you have struck me and knocked me down.
3 Soundness is not in my flesh, Because of Your indignation, Peace is not in my bones, Because of my sin.
Because you have been angry with me, I am suffering great pain. Because of my sin, my whole body is diseased.
4 For my iniquities have passed over my head, As a heavy burden—too heavy for me.
All my sins are [like a flood] that covers my head; they are like a load that is very heavy, with the result that I cannot carry it.
5 Stunk—my wounds have become corrupt, Because of my folly.
Because I have done foolish things, I have sores that have become worse, and they stink.
6 I have been bent down, I have been bowed down—to excess, I have gone mourning all the day.
[Sometimes] I am bent over, and [sometimes] I lie prostrate; I am sad/cry all day.
7 For my flanks have been full of drought, And soundness is not in my flesh.
My body is burning with fever, and I am very ill.
8 I have been feeble and struck—to excess, I have roared from disquietude of heart.
I am completely exhausted, and I have no strength. I am very distressed, and I groan with pain.
9 Lord, all my desire [is] before You, And my sighing has not been hid from You.
Yahweh, you know that I desire [to be healed]; you hear me while I am groaning.
10 My heart [is] panting, my power has forsaken me, And the light of my eyes, Even they are not with me.
My heat is pounding heavily, and all my strength is gone. I am no longer able to see well.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from before my plague. And my neighbors have stood far off.
My friends and neighbors stay away from me because of my sores; even my own family stays away from me.
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 want to kill me set traps to catch me; those who want to harm me discuss ways to get rid of me; they plot against me all day.
13 And I, as deaf, do not hear. And as a mute one who does not open his mouth.
Now I act like I’m deaf, and do not listen [to what they say]. I act like I cannot talk, so I say nothing [to reply to them].
14 Indeed, I am as a man who does not hear, And in his mouth are no reproofs.
I act like a man who does not answer [when people talk to him], because he cannot hear anything.
15 Because for You, O YHWH, I have waited, You answer, O Lord my God.
But Yahweh, I trust in you. My Lord God, you will answer me.
16 When I said, “Lest they rejoice over me, In the slipping of my foot they magnified themselves against me.”
I said to you, “Do not cause [me to die, with the result that] my enemies will rejoice! Do not cause me to stumble, with the result that they will be very happy!”
17 For I am ready to halt, And my pain [is] continually before me.
I say that because I am about to fall down, and I constantly have pain.
18 For I declare my iniquity, I am sorry for my sin.
I confess the wrong things that I have done; I am [very] sorry for the sins that I have committed.
19 And my enemies [are] lively, They have been strong, and those hating me without cause, Have been multiplied.
My enemies are healthy and strong; there are many people who hate me for no reason.
20 And those paying evil for good accuse me, Because of my pursuing good.
Those who do evil things to me in return for my doing good things to them oppose me because I try to do what is right.
21 Do not forsake me, O YHWH, My God, do not be far from me,
Yahweh, do not abandon me! My God, do not stay far from me!
22 Hurry to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
Lord, you are the one who saves/rescues me; Quickly [come and] help me!
