Psalm 38:11–16

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

my neighbors stay far away.

12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,

those who would harm me talk of my ruin;

all day long they scheme and lie.

13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,

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 wait for you;

you will answer, Lord my God.

16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat

or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”

11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore;

And my kinsmen stand afar off.

12 They 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.

13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not;

And I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not,

And in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15 For in thee, O Lord, do I hope:

Thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me:

When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

11 My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease.

Even my own family stands at a distance.

12 Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me.

Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me.

All day long they plan their treachery.

13 But I am deaf to all their threats.

I am silent before them as one who cannot speak.

14 I choose to hear nothing,

and I make no reply.

15 For I am waiting for you, O Lord.

You must answer for me, O Lord my God.

16 I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me

or rejoice at my downfall.”

11 My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague,

And my relatives stand afar off.

12 Those also who seek my life lay snares for me;

Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction,

And plan deception all the day long.

13 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear;

And I am like a mute who does not open his mouth.

14 Thus I am like a man who does not hear,

And in whose mouth is no response.

15 For in You, O Lord, I hope;

You will hear, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, “Hear me, lest they rejoice over me,

Lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.”

11 Because of my wounds, my friends and neighbors avoid me,

and my relatives stay far away.

12 Some people set traps to kill me.

Those who want to hurt me plan trouble;

all day long they think up lies.

13 I am like the deaf; I cannot hear.

Like the mute, I cannot speak.

14 I am like those who do not hear,

who have no answer to give.

15 I trust you, Lord.

You will answer, my Lord and God.

16 I said, “Don’t let them laugh at me

or brag when I am defeated.”

11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague;

And my kinsmen stand afar off.

12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me;

And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things,

And meditate deceits all the day long.

13 But I, as a deaf man, hear not;

And I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

14 Yea, I am as a man that heareth not,

And in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15 For in thee, O Jehovah, do I hope:

Thou wilt answer, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, Lest they rejoice over me:

When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

11 My lovers and mine associates stand aloof from my stroke; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

12 And they that seek after my life lay snares for me; and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all the day long. 13 But I, as a deaf man, hear not; and am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 14 Yea, I am as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in thee, Jehovah, do I hope: thou wilt answer, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, Let them not rejoice over me! When my foot slipped, they magnified themselves against me.

11 My loved ones and my friends keep their distance 

and my relatives stand far away because of my sickness. 

12 Those who seek my life lay traps for me. 

Those who are out to harm me talk about ruining me. 

All day long they think of ways to deceive me. 

13 But I am like a person who cannot hear 

and like a person who cannot speak. 

14 I am like one who cannot hear 

and who can offer no arguments. 

15 But I wait with hope for you, O Lord. 

You will answer, O Lord, my God. 

16 I said, “Do not let them gloat over me. 

When my foot slips, 

do not let them promote themselves at my expense.” 

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

and my relatives stand at a distance.

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.

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

I am like a speechless person

who does not open his mouth.

14 I am like a man who does not hear

and has no arguments in his mouth.

15 I put my hope in You, Lord;

You will answer, Lord my God.

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

those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble.”

11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction,

and my neighbors stand far off.

12 Those who seek my life lay their snares;

those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin

and meditate on treachery all day long.

13 But I am like the deaf; I do not hear;

like the mute, who cannot speak.

14 Truly, I am like one who does not hear

and in whose mouth is no retort.

15 But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait;

it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

16 For I pray, “Only do not let them rejoice over me,

those who boast against me when my foot slips.”

11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction,

and my relatives stand afar off.

12 Those who seek my life lay snares as well,

and those intent on my harm speak threats.

They also plot deceit all day.

13 But as for me, like the deaf I cannot hear,

and I am like the mute who cannot open his mouth.

14 And so I am like a man who hears not,

and in whose mouth there are no retorts.

15 Rather for you I wait, O Yahweh.

You will answer, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, “Help, lest they rejoice over me,

lest they boast against me when my foot slips.”

11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds.

My neighbors stay far away from me.

12 Those who are trying to kill me set their traps.

Those who want to harm me talk about destroying me.

All day long they plan ways to trick me.

13 I’m like a deaf person. I can’t hear.

I’m like someone who can’t speak, who can’t say a word.

14 I’m like a man who doesn’t hear.

I’m like someone whose mouth can’t make any reply.

15 Lord, I wait for you to help me.

Lord my God, I know you will answer.

16 I said, “Don’t let my enemies have the joy of seeing me fall.

Don’t let them brag when my foot slips.”

11 My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague;

And my kinsmen stand afar off.

12 Those who seek my life lay snares for me;

And those who seek to injure me have threatened destruction,

And they devise treachery all day long.

13 But I, like a deaf man, do not hear;

And I am like a mute man who does not open his mouth.

14 Yes, I am like a man who does not hear,

And in whose mouth are no arguments.

15 For I hope in You, O Lord;

You will answer, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, “May they not rejoice over me,

Who, when my foot slips, would magnify themselves against me.”