Psalm 38

A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.

1O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

3There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.footnote a

4For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

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

6I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.footnote b

7For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

10My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.footnote c

11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.footnote dfootnote e

12They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

13But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

14Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.footnote ffootnote g

16For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

17For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.footnote h

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

19But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.footnote i

20They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

21Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.

22Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.footnote j

Do Not Rebuke Me in Your Anger

A Psalm of David, for remembrance.

1O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your angeror discipline me in Your wrath. 2For Your arrows have pierced me deeply,and Your hand has pressed down on me.

3There is no soundness in my bodybecause of Your anger;there is no rest in my bonesbecause of my sin. 4For my iniquities have overwhelmed me;they are a burden too heavy to bear. 5My wounds are foul and festeringbecause of my sinful folly. 6I am bent and brought low;all day long I go about mourning. 7For my loins are full of burning pain,and no soundness remains in my body. 8I am numb and badly crushed;I groan in anguish of heart.

9O Lord, my every desire is before You;my groaning is not hidden from You. 10My heart pounds, my strength fails,and even the light of my eyes has faded. 11My beloved and friends shun my disease,and my kinsmen stand at a distance. 12Those who seek my life lay snares;those who wish me harm speak destruction,plotting deceit all day long.

13But like a deaf man, I do not hear;and like a mute man, I do not open my mouth. 14I am like a man who cannot hear,whose mouth offers no reply. 15I wait for You, O LORD;You will answer, O Lord my God. 16For I said, “Let them not gloat over me—those who taunt me when my foot slips.”

17For I am ready to fall,and my pain is ever with me. 18Yes, I confess my iniquity;I am troubled by my sin. 19Many are my enemies without cause,footnote aand many hate me without reason.footnote b 20Those who repay my good with evilattack me for pursuing the good.

21Do not forsake me, O LORD;be not far from me, O my God. 22Come quickly to help me,O Lord my Savior.