Psalms 38

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

A Psalm of David for remembrance concerning the Sabbath-day. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath, neither chasten me in thine anger.

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

For thy weapons are fixed in me, and thou hast pressed thy hand heavily 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.

For there is no health in my flesh because of thine anger; there is no peace to my bones because of my sins.

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

For my transgressions have gone over mine head: they have pressed heavily upon me like a weighty burden.

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

My bruises have become noisome and corrupt, because of my foolishness.

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

I have been wretched and bowed down continually: I went with a mourning countenance all the day.

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

For my soul is filled with mockings; and there is no health in my flesh.

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

I have been afflicted and brought down exceedingly: I have roared for the groaning of my heart.

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

But all my desire is before thee; 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 is troubled, my strength has failed me; and the light of mine eyes is not with me.

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

My friends and my neighbours drew near before me, and stood still; and my nearest of kin stood 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 pressed hard upon me that sought my soul: and they that sought my hurt spoke vanities, and devised deceits all the day.

13 But I, as a deaf man, do not hear. I am as a mute man who does not open his mouth.

But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and was as a dumb man not opening his mouth.

14 Yes, I am as a man who does not hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs.

And I was as a man that hears not, and who has no reproofs in his mouth.

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

For I hoped in thee, O Lord: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

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

For I said, Lest mine enemies rejoice against me: for when my feet were moved, they spoke boastingly against me.

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

For I am ready for plagues, and my grief is continually before me.

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

For I will declare mine iniquity, and be distressed for my sin.

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

But mine enemies live, and are mightier than I: and they that hate me unjustly are multiplied.

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

They that reward evil for good slandered me; because I followed righteousness.

21 Do not forsake me, LORD. My God, do not be far from me.

Forsake me not, O Lord my God: depart not from me.

22 Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.

Draw nigh to my help, O Lord of my salvation.