Psalms 38

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

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

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

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

In my flesh is no soundness because of your anger, 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 that my guilt is gone over my head: it weighs like a burden too heavy for me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lord, you know all that I long for, my groans 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 is throbbing, my strength has failed me. The light of my eyes – even it is gone from me.

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

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

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

13 But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21 Don’t forsake me, LORD. My God, don’t be far from me.

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

22 Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.

Hasten to help me, O Lord my saviour.