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, to bring to remembrance. Yahweh, do not rebuke me in your anger; do not punish me in your wrath.

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

For your arrows pierce me, and your hand presses me down.

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

My whole body is sick because of your anger; there is no 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.

For my iniquities overwhelm me; they are a burden too heavy for me.

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

My wounds are infected and smell because of my foolish sins.

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

I am stooped over and humiliated every day; I go about mourning all day long.

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

For within me, I am filled with burning; 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 am numb and utterly crushed; I groan because of the anguish of my heart.

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

Lord, you understand my heart's deepest yearnings, and my groanings are not hidden from you.

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

My heart pounds, my strength fades, and my eyesight dims.

11 My loved ones and my friends keep their distance because of my affliction. My kinsmen stand far away.

My friends and companions shun me because of my condition; my neighbors stand 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.

Those who seek my life lay snares for me. They who seek my harm speak destructive words and say deceitful words all day long.

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

But I, I am like a deaf man and hear nothing; I am like a mute man who says nothing.

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

I am like a man who does not hear and who has no reply.

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

Surely I wait for you, Yahweh; you will answer, Lord my God.

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

I say this so that my enemies will not gloat over me. If my foot slips, they will do terrible things to me.

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

For I am about to stumble, and I am in constant pain.

18 Yes, I confess my iniquity. I am anxious because of my sin.

I confess my guilt; I am concerned about my sin.

19 But my enemies, for no reason, are many. Those who hate me wrongfully are numerous.

But my enemies are numerous; those who hate me wrongfully are many.

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

They repay me evil for good; they hurl accusations at me although I have pursued what is good.

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

Do not abandon me, Yahweh; my God, do not stay far away from me.

22 Hurry to help me, LORD, my salvation.

Come quickly to help me, Lord, my salvation.