Psalm 38a

A psalm of David. A petition.

1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger

or discipline me in your wrath.y

2 Your arrowsz have pierced me,

and your hand has come down on me.

3 Because of your wrath there is no healtha in my body;

there is no soundness in my bonesb because of my sin.

4 My guilt has overwhelmedc me

like a burden too heavy to bear.d

5 My woundse fester and are loathsomef

because of my sinful folly.g

6 I am bowed downh and brought very low;

all day long I go about mourning.i

7 My back is filled with searing pain;j

there is no healthk in my body.

8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;l

I groanm in anguish of heart.n

9 All my longingso lie open before you, Lord;

my sighingp is not hidden from you.

10 My heart pounds,q my strength failsr me;

even the light has gone from my eyes.s

11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;t

my neighbors stay far away.

12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,u

those who would harm me talk of my ruin;v

all day long they scheme and lie.w

13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,x

like the mute, who cannot speak;

14 I have become like one who does not hear,

whose mouth can offer no reply.

15 Lord, I waity for you;

you will answer,z Lord my God.

16 For I said, “Do not let them gloata

or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”b

17 For I am about to fall,c

and my paind is ever with me.

18 I confess my iniquity;e

I am troubled by my sin.

19 Many have become my enemiesf without causeb;

those who hate meg without reasonh are numerous.

20 Those who repay my good with evili

lodge accusationsj against me,

though I seek only to do what is good.

21 Lord, do not forsake me;k

do not be farl from me, my God.

22 Come quicklym to help me,n

my Lord and my Savior.o