Psalms 38

1 A Psalm. Of David. To keep in memory. O Lord, be not bitter with me in your wrath; let not your hand be on me in the heat of your passion.

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

2 For your arrows have gone into my flesh, and I am crushed under the weight of your hand.

For your weapons are fixed in me, and you have pressed your hand heavily upon me.

3 My flesh is wasted because of your wrath; and there is no peace in my bones because of my sin.

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

4 For my crimes have gone over my head; they are like a great weight which is more than my strength.

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

5 My wounds are poisoned and evil-smelling, because of my foolish behaviour.

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

6 I am troubled, I am made low; I go weeping all the day.

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

7 For my body is full of burning; all my flesh is unhealthy.

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

8 I am feeble and crushed down; I gave a cry like a lion because of the grief in 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 sorrow is not kept secret from you.

But all my desire is before you; and my groaning is not hidden from you.

10 My heart goes out in pain, my strength is wasting away; as for the light of my eyes, it is gone from 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 keep away from my disease; my relations keep far away.

My friends and my neighbors drew near before me, and stood still; and my nearest of kin stood afar off.

12 Those who have a desire to take my life put nets for me; those who are designing my destruction say evil things against me, all the day their minds are full of deceit.

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 kept my ears shut like a man without hearing; like a man without a voice, never opening his mouth.

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

14 So I was like a man whose ears are shut, and in whose mouth there are no sharp words.

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

15 In you, O Lord, is my hope: you will give me an answer, O Lord, my God.

For I hoped in you, O Lord: you will hear, O Lord my God.

16 I said, Let them not be glad over me; when my foot is moved, let them not be lifted up with pride against me.

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

17 My feet are near to falling, and my sorrow is ever before me.

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

18 I will make clear my wrongdoing, with sorrow in my heart for my sin.

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

19 But they are strong who have hate for me without cause: those who are against me falsely are increased in numbers.

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

20 They give me back evil for good; they are my haters because I go after the thing which is right.

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

21 Do not give me up, O Lord; O my God, be near to me.

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

22 Come quickly to give me help, O Lord, my salvation.

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