< 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. Yahweh, do not rebuke me in your anger; do not punish me in your wrath.
2 For Your arrows have come down on me, And You let down Your hand on me.
For your arrows pierce me, and your hand presses me down.
3 Soundness is not in my flesh, Because of Your indignation, Peace is not in my bones, Because of my sin.
My whole body is sick because of your anger; there is 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 my iniquities overwhelm me; they are a burden too heavy for me.
5 Stunk—my wounds have become corrupt, Because of my folly.
My wounds are infected and smell because of my foolish sins.
6 I have been bent down, I have been bowed down—to excess, I have gone mourning all the day.
I am stooped over and humiliated every day; I go about mourning all day long.
7 For my flanks have been full of drought, And soundness is not in my flesh.
For within me, I am filled with burning; 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 numb and utterly crushed; I groan because of the anguish of my heart.
9 Lord, all my desire [is] before You, And my sighing has not been hid from You.
Lord, you understand my heart's deepest yearnings, and my groanings 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 pounds, my strength fades, and my eyesight dims.
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from before my plague. And my neighbors have stood far off.
My friends and companions shun me because of my condition; my neighbors stand far 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.
Those who seek my life lay snares for me. They who seek my harm speak destructive words and say deceitful words all day long.
13 And I, as deaf, do not hear. And as a mute one who does not open his mouth.
But I, I am like a deaf man and hear nothing; I am like a mute man who says nothing.
14 Indeed, I am as a man who does not hear, And in his mouth are no reproofs.
I am like a man who does not hear and who has no reply.
15 Because for You, O YHWH, I have waited, You answer, O Lord my God.
Surely I wait for you, Yahweh; you will answer, Lord my God.
16 When I said, “Lest they rejoice over me, In the slipping of my foot they magnified themselves against me.”
I say this so that my enemies will not gloat over me. If my foot slips, they will do terrible things to me.
17 For I am ready to halt, And my pain [is] continually before me.
For I am about to stumble, and I am in constant pain.
18 For I declare my iniquity, I am sorry for my sin.
I confess my guilt; I am concerned 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 are numerous; those who hate me wrongfully are many.
20 And those paying evil for good accuse me, Because of my pursuing good.
They repay me evil for good; they hurl accusations at me although I have pursued what is good.
21 Do not forsake me, O YHWH, My God, do not be far from me,
Do not abandon me, Yahweh; my God, do not stay far away from me.
22 Hurry to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
Come quickly to help me, Lord, my salvation.