Psalm 38

Prayer of a Suffering Sinner

A Davidic psalm for remembrance. i

1 Lord, do not punish me in Your anger

or discipline me in Your wrath. j

2 For Your arrows have sunk into me,

and Your hand has pressed down on me. k

3 There is no health in my body

because of Your indignation;

there is no strength l in my bones

because of my sin. m

4 For my sins have flooded over my head;

they are a burden too heavy for me to bear. n

5 My wounds are foul and festering

because of my foolishness. o

6 I am bent over and brought low;

all day long I go around in mourning. p

7 For my loins are full of burning pain,

and there is no health in my body. q

8 I am faint and severely crushed;

I groan because of the anguish of my heart. r

9 Lord, my every desire is known to s You;

my sighing is not hidden from You. t

10 My heart races, my strength leaves me,

and even the light of my eyes has faded. u v

11 My loved ones and friends stand back from my affliction,

and my relatives stand at a distance. w

12 Those who seek my life set traps,

and those who want to harm me threaten to destroy me;

they plot treachery all day long. x

13 I am like a deaf person; I do not hear.

I am like a speechless person

who does not open his mouth. y

14 I am like a man who does not hear

and has no arguments in his mouth. z

15 I put my hope in You, Lord;

You will answer, Lord my God. a

16 For I said, “Don’t let them rejoice over me—

those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble.” b

17 For I am about to fall,

and my pain is constantly with me. c

18 So I confess my * guilt;

I am anxious because of my sin. d

19 But my enemies are vigorous and powerful; e

many hate me for no reason. f

20 Those who repay evil for good

attack me for pursuing good. g

21 Lord, do not abandon me;

my God, do not be far from me. h

22 Hurry to help me,

Lord, my Savior. i