Psalm 38
A Psalm by David, for a memorial.
1 LORD,
don’t rebuke me in
your wrath,
neither chasten me in
your hot displeasure.
2 For
your arrows have pierced
me,
your hand presses hard 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.
4 For
my iniquities have gone
over my head.
As a heavy burden,
they are too heavy
for me.
5 My wounds
are loathsome and corrupt
because of
my foolishness.
6 I am
in pain and bowed
down greatly.
I go mourning all day
long.
7 For
my waist is filled
with burning.
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.
9 Lord, all
my desire is
before you.
My groaning is
not hidden from
you.
10 My heart
throbs.
My strength fails me.
As for the light
of my eyes, it
has also left me.
11 My lovers
and my friends
stand aloof from
my plague.
My kinsmen stand far away.
12 They also
who seek after
my life lay snares.
Those who seek my hurt speak
mischievous things,
and meditate deceits all day long.
13 But
I, as a deaf
man, don’t hear.
I am as a mute
man who doesn’t open
his mouth.
14 Yes, I am
as a man
who doesn’t hear,
in whose mouth
are no reproofs.
15 For
I hope in you,
LORD.
You will answer, Lord
my God.
16 For
I said, “Don’t let
them gloat over me,
or exalt themselves over
me when my foot
slips.”
17 For
I am ready to
fall.
My pain is continually
before me.
18 For
I will declare
my iniquity.
I will be sorry
for my sin.
19 But
my enemies are vigorous
and many.
Those who hate me
without reason are numerous.
20 They
who render evil for good
are also adversaries to
me,
because I follow what is good.
21 Don’t forsake
me, LORD.
My God, don’t
be far from me.
22 Hurry to
help me,
Lord, my salvation.