Psalms 38
1 Yahweh, when you are angry [with me], do not rebuke/scold me and punish me!
A psalm of David, for a memorial. Lord, please don't condemn me because you're angry with me; don't punish me because you're furious with me!
2 [Now it is as though] you have shot your arrows at me and wounded me; you have struck me and knocked me down.
Your arrows have pierced me deeply, your hand has come down hard on me.
3 Because you have been angry with me, I am suffering great pain. Because of my sin, my whole body is diseased.
Because you're so upset with me, not a single part of my body is healthy; I am completely sick because of my sins.
4 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.
I'm drowning in guilt—the burden is too heavy to bear.
5 Because I have done foolish things, I have sores that have become worse, and they stink.
My wounds are infected—they're smelling—all because of my stupidity.
6 [Sometimes] I am bent over, and [sometimes] I lie prostrate; I am sad/cry all day.
I am bent over, doubled up in pain. The whole day I walk around crying my eyes out.
7 My body is burning with fever, and I am very ill.
Inside I'm burning up with fever; no part of my body is healthy.
8 I am completely exhausted, and I have no strength. I am very distressed, and I groan with pain.
I'm worn out, totally down. I groan because of the anguish I feel in my heart.
9 Yahweh, you know that I desire [to be healed]; you hear me while I am groaning.
Lord, you know what I desperately want, you hear every sigh I make.
10 My heat is pounding heavily, and all my strength is gone. I am no longer able to see well.
My heart is racing, leaving me with no strength; my eyesight is failing.
11 My friends and neighbors stay away from me because of my sores; even my own family stays away from me.
My loved ones and my friends don't come near me because they're afraid of what I've got. Even my family keeps me at a distance.
12 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.
Those who are trying to kill me set traps for me; those who want to hurt me make threats against me, working on their deceitful schemes all day long.
13 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].
I act as if I'm deaf to what they're saying, and pretend to be dumb so I don't have to speak.
14 I act like a man who does not answer [when people talk to him], because he cannot hear anything.
Like a man who can't hear, and who doesn't reply—that's me!
15 But Yahweh, I trust in you. My Lord God, you will answer me.
For I'm waiting on you, Lord! You will answer for me, my Lord and my God.
16 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!”
I'm asking you, Lord, please don't let my enemies gloat over me, don't let them be glad when I trip up.
17 I say that because I am about to fall down, and I constantly have pain.
For I'm about ready to collapse—the pain never stops.
18 I confess the wrong things that I have done; I am [very] sorry for the sins that I have committed.
I do confess my sins; I am terribly sorry for what I've done.
19 My enemies are healthy and strong; there are many people who hate me for no reason.
I have many powerful enemies—they are very active, hating me for no reason.
20 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.
They pay me back evil for good; they accuse me for the good I try to do.
21 Yahweh, do not abandon me! My God, do not stay far from me!
Don't give up on me, my Lord and my God, don't stay away from me.
22 Lord, you are the one who saves/rescues me; Quickly [come and] help me!
Hurry, come and help me, Lord my salvation.
