Psalms 38

1 A Psalm by David, for a memorial. LORD, don’t rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.

A PSALM OF DAVID. “TO CAUSE TO REMEMBER.” YHWH, do not reprove me in Your wrath, Nor discipline me in Your fury.

2 For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me.

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

3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

Soundness is not in my flesh, Because of Your indignation, Peace is not in my bones, Because of my sin.

4 For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

For my iniquities have passed over my head, As a heavy burden—too heavy for me.

5 My wounds are loathsome and corrupt because of my foolishness.

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

6 I am in pain and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long.

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

7 For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh.

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

8 I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.

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

9 Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you.

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

10 My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.

My heart [is] panting, my power has forsaken me, And the light of my eyes, Even they are not with me.

11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away.

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

12 They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long.

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.

13 But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth.

And I, as deaf, do not hear. And as a mute one who does not open his mouth.

14 Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs.

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

15 For I hope in you, LORD. You will answer, Lord my God.

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

16 For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”

When I said, “Lest they rejoice over me, In the slipping of my foot they magnified themselves against me.”

17 For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me.

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

18 For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin.

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

19 But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous.

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

20 They who render evil for good are also adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.

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

21 Don’t forsake me, LORD. My God, don’t be far from me.

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

22 Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.

Hurry to help me, O Lord, my salvation!