Psalm 38
A psalm of David. A prayer.
1Lord, don’t correct me when you are angry.
Don’t punish me when you are burning with anger.
2You have wounded me with your arrows.
You have struck me with your hand.
3Because of your anger, my whole body is sick.
Because of my sin, I’m not healthy.
4My guilt has become too much for me.
It is a load too heavy to carry.
5My wounds are ugly. They stink.
I’ve been foolish. I have sinned.
6I am bent over. I’ve been brought very low.
All day long I go around weeping.
7My back is filled with burning pain.
My whole body is sick.
8I am weak and feel as if I’ve been broken in pieces.
I groan because of the great pain in my heart.
9Lord, everything I really want is clearly known to you.
You always hear me when I sigh.
10My heart pounds, and my strength is gone.
My eyes can hardly see.
11My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds.
My neighbors stay far away from me.
12Those who are trying to kill me set their traps.
Those who want to harm me talk about destroying me.
All day long they make their plans and tell their lies.
13Like a deaf person, I can’t hear.
Like someone who can’t speak, I can’t say a word.
14I’m like someone who doesn’t hear.
I’m like someone whose mouth can’t make any reply.
15Lord, I wait for you to help me.
Lord my God, I know you will answer.
16I said, “Don’t let my enemies have the joy of seeing me fall.
Don’t let them brag when my feet slip.”
17I am about to fall.
My pain never leaves me.
18I admit that I have done wrong.
I am troubled by my sin.
19Though I have done nothing to cause it, many people have become my enemies.
They hate me without any reason.
20They pay me back with evil, even though I was good to them.
They bring charges against me, though I try only to do what is good.
21Lord, don’t desert me.
My God, don’t be far away from me.
22Lord my Savior,
come quickly to help me.
Psalm 38In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
A psalm of David. A petition.
1Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
2Your arrows have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
4My guilt has overwhelmed me
like a burden too heavy to bear.
5My wounds fester and are loathsome
because of my sinful folly.
6I am bowed down and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.
7My back is filled with searing pain;
there is no health in my body.
8I am feeble and utterly crushed;
I groan in anguish of heart.
9All my longings lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
10My heart pounds, my strength fails me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.
11My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;
my neighbors stay far away.
12Those who want to kill me set their traps,
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;
all day long they scheme and lie.
13I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,
like the mute, who cannot speak;
14I have become like one who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15Lord, I wait for you;
you will answer, Lord my God.
16For I said, “Do not let them gloat
or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”
17For I am about to fall,
and my pain is ever with me.
18I confess my iniquity;
I am troubled by my sin.
19Many have become my enemies without cause38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies;
those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20Those who repay my good with evil
lodge accusations against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.
21Lord, do not forsake me;
do not be far from me, my God.
22Come quickly to help me,
my Lord and my Savior.
