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 bring to remembrance.” O LORD! rebuke me not in thy wrath, Nor chasten me in thy hot displeasure!

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

For thine arrows have deeply pierced me, And thy hand hath been heavy upon 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.

There is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger; Nor rest 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 gone over my head; Like a heavy burden, they are more than I can bear.

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

My wounds putrefy and are loathsome on account of my folly.

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

I am bent; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

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

For my loins are full of burning heat, And there is no soundness in my flesh.

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

I am weakened and bruised exceedingly; I roar by reason of the disquietude of my heart.

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

O Lord! thou knowest all my desire, And my groaning is not hidden from thee!

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

My heart panteth; my strength faileth me; The very light of my eyes is gone from me.

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

My friends and acquaintance keep aloof from my woe, And my kinsmen stand afar 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.

While they who seek my life lay snares for me; They who seek my hurt threaten destruction, And meditate deceit all the day long.

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

But I, like a deaf man, hear not; And, like a dumb man, open not my mouth.

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

I am like one who heareth nothing, And in whose mouth is no reply.

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

For in thee, O LORD! do I put my trust; Thou wilt hear, O Lord, my God!

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

For I have prayed, “Let them not rejoice over me; Let them not exult at the slipping of my feet!”

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

For I am ready to fall, And my pain doth never leave me;

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

For I confess my iniquity, And am troubled on account of my sin.

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

But my enemies flourish and are strong; They who hate me without cause are multiplied.

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

They who repay good with evil are my enemies, Because I follow that which is good.

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

Forsake me not, O LORD! O my God! be not far from me!

22 Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.

Make hast to mine aid, O Lord, my salvation!