Psalms 38

1 A Psalm of David. A lament. Reprove me not, Lord, in your anger, and chasten me not in your wrath;

A PSALM OF DAVID. “TO CAUSE TO REMEMBER.” YHWH, do not reprove me in Your wrath, Nor discipline me in Your fury.

2 for your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand lies heavy upon me.

For Your arrows have come down on me, And You let down Your hand on me.

3 In my flesh is no soundness because of your anger, no health in my bones, because of my sin.

Soundness is not in my flesh, Because of Your indignation, Peace is not in my bones, Because of my sin.

4 For that my guilt is gone over my head: it weighs like a burden too heavy for me.

For my iniquities have passed over my head, As a heavy burden—too heavy for me.

5 My wounds stink and fester, for my foolishness I am tormented.

Stunk—my wounds have become corrupt, Because of my folly.

6 Bent and bowed am I utterly, all the day going in mourning.

I have been bent down, I have been bowed down—to excess, I have gone mourning all the day.

7 My loins are filled with burning, and in my flesh is no soundness.

For my flanks have been full of drought, And soundness is not in my flesh.

8 I am utterly crushed and numb; I cry louder than lion roars.

I have been feeble and struck—to excess, I have roared from disquietude of heart.

9 Lord, you know all that I long for, my groans are not hidden from you.

Lord, all my desire [is] before You, And my sighing has not been hid from You.

10 My heart is throbbing, my strength has failed me. The light of my eyes – even it is gone from me.

My heart [is] panting, my power has forsaken me, And the light of my eyes, Even they are not with me.

11 My dear ones and friends keep aloof, and my neighbours stand afar off.

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from before my plague. And my neighbors have stood far off.

12 They who aim at my life lay their snares, they who seek my hurt speak of ruin, nursing treachery all the day long.

And those seeking my soul lay a snare, And those seeking my evil Have spoken mischievous things, And they meditate [on] deceits all the day.

13 But I turn a deaf ear and hear not; like the dumb I open not my mouth.

And I, as deaf, do not hear. And as a mute one who does not open his mouth.

14 I am like one without hearing, with no arguments in my mouth.

Indeed, I am as a man who does not hear, And in his mouth are no reproofs.

15 For my hope, O Lord, is in you. You will answer, O Lord my God,

Because for You, O YHWH, I have waited, You answer, O Lord my God.

16 when I utter the hope that those who made scorn of my tottering feet may not rejoice over me.

When I said, “Lest they rejoice over me, In the slipping of my foot they magnified themselves against me.”

17 For I am ready to fall, my pain forsakes me never.

For I am ready to halt, And my pain [is] continually before me.

18 I acknowledge my guilt, I am anxious because of my sin:

For I declare my iniquity, I am sorry for my sin.

19 My wanton assailants are strong, those who wrongfully hate me are many,

And my enemies [are] lively, They have been strong, and those hating me without cause, Have been multiplied.

20 who render me evil for good, and oppose me, because I make good my goal.

And those paying evil for good accuse me, Because of my pursuing good.

21 Do not forsake me, O Lord; my God, be not far from me.

Do not forsake me, O YHWH, My God, do not be far from me,

22 Hasten to help me, O Lord my saviour.

Hurry to help me, O Lord, my salvation!