Psalms 38

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

Yahweh, when you are angry [with me], do not rebuke/scold me and punish me!

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

[Now it is as though] you have shot your arrows at me and wounded me; you have struck me and knocked 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.

Because you have been angry with me, I am suffering great pain. Because of my sin, my whole body is diseased.

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

All my sins are [like a flood] that covers my head; they are like a load that is very heavy, with the result that I cannot carry it.

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

Because I have done foolish things, I have sores that have become worse, and they stink.

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

[Sometimes] I am bent over, and [sometimes] I lie prostrate; I am sad/cry all day.

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

My body is burning with fever, and I am very ill.

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

I am completely exhausted, and I have no strength. I am very distressed, and I groan with pain.

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

Yahweh, you know that I desire [to be healed]; you hear me while I am groaning.

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

My heat is pounding heavily, and all my strength is gone. I am no longer able to see well.

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

My friends and neighbors stay away from me because of my sores; even my own family stays away from me.

12 They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long.

And those who want to kill me set traps to catch me; those who want to harm me discuss ways to get rid of me; they plot against me all day.

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

Now I act like I’m deaf, and do not listen [to what they say]. I act like I cannot talk, so I say nothing [to reply to them].

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

I act like a man who does not answer [when people talk to him], because he cannot hear anything.

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

But Yahweh, I trust in you. My Lord God, you will answer me.

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

I said to you, “Do not cause [me to die, with the result that] my enemies will rejoice! Do not cause me to stumble, with the result that they will be very happy!”

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

I say that because I am about to fall down, and I constantly have pain.

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

I confess the wrong things that I have done; I am [very] sorry for the sins that I have committed.

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

My enemies are healthy and strong; there are many people who hate me for no reason.

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

Those who do evil things to me in return for my doing good things to them oppose me because I try to do what is right.

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

Yahweh, do not abandon me! My God, do not stay far from me!

22 Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.

Lord, you are the one who saves/rescues me; Quickly [come and] help me!