2 The verb Hebrew נָחַת (nakhat) apparently here means “penetrate, pierce” (note the use of the Qal in Prov 17:10). The psalmist pictures the Lord as a warrior who shoots arrows at him (see Ps 7:12–13).
3 Heb “and your hand [?] upon me.” The meaning of the verb נָחַת (nakhat) is unclear in this context. It is preferable to emend the form to וַתָּנַח (vattanakh) from the verb נוּחַ (nuakh, “rest”). In this case the text would read literally, “and your hand rests upon me” (see Isa 25:10, though the phrase is used in a positive sense there, unlike Ps 38:2).
4 Heb “there is no soundness in my flesh from before your anger.” “Anger” here refers metonymically to divine judgment, which is the practical effect of God’s anger at the psalmist’s sin.
5 Heb “there is no health in my bones from before my sin.”
6 Heb “pass over my head.”
7 The reference to wounds may be an extension of the metaphorical language of v. 2. The psalmist pictures himself as one whose flesh is ripped and torn by arrows.
8 Heb “my wounds stink, they are festering” (cf. ).
9 Heb “from before my foolishness.”
10 The verb’s precise shade of meaning in this context is not entirely clear. The verb, which literally means “to bend,” may refer to the psalmist’s posture. In Isa 21:3 it seems to mean “be confused, dazed.”
11 Heb “I am bowed down to excess.”
12 Heb “for my loins are filled with shame.” The “loins” are viewed here as the seat of the psalmist’s emotions. The present translation assumes that נִקְלֶה (niqleh) is derived from קָלָה (qalah, “be dishonored”). Some derive it instead from a homonymic root קָלָה (qalah), meaning “to roast.” In this case one might translate “fever” (cf. “my loins burn with fever”).
13 Heb “there is no soundness in my flesh” (see v. 3).
14 Heb “I am numb and crushed to excess.”
15 Heb “I roar because of the moaning of my heart.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For your arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand has come down on me.

There is no soundness in my flesh

because of your indignation;

there is no health in my bones

because of my sin.

For my iniquities have gone over my head;

like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

My wounds stink and fester

because of my foolishness,

I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;

all the day I go about mourning.

For my sides are filled with burning,

and there is no soundness in my flesh.

I am feeble and crushed;

I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Your arrows have pierced me,

and your hand has come down on me.

Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;

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

My guilt has overwhelmed me

like a burden too heavy to bear.

My wounds fester and are loathsome

because of my sinful folly.

I am bowed down and brought very low;

all day long I go about mourning.

My back is filled with searing pain;

there is no health in my body.

I am feeble and utterly crushed;

I groan in anguish of heart.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For your arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand has pressed down on me.

There is no soundness in my body

because of your indignation;

there is no health in my bones

because of my sin.

For my iniquities have flooded over my head;

they are a burden too heavy for me to bear.

My wounds are foul and festering

because of my foolishness.

I am bent over and brought very low;

all day long I go around in mourning.

For my insides are full of burning pain,

and there is no soundness in my body.

I am faint and severely crushed;

I groan because of the anguish of my heart.

NLTNew Living Translation

Your arrows have struck deep,

and your blows are crushing me.

Because of your anger, my whole body is sick;

my health is broken because of my sins.

My guilt overwhelms me—

it is a burden too heavy to bear.

My wounds fester and stink

because of my foolish sins.

I am bent over and racked with pain.

All day long I walk around filled with grief.

A raging fever burns within me,

and my health is broken.

I am exhausted and completely crushed.

My groans come from an anguished heart.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For your arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand has pressed down on me.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation.

There is no health in my bones because of my sin.

For my iniquities have passed over my head;

like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

My wounds start to stink; they rot

because of my foolishness.

I am bowed down; I am bent over greatly.

All the day I go about mourning.

For my loins are full of burning,

and there is no soundness in my flesh.

I am faint and crushed greatly;

I groan because of the roaring of my heart.

KJV 1900King James Version

For thine arrows stick fast in me,

And thy hand presseth me sore.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger;

Neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head:

As an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

My wounds stink and are corrupt

Because of my foolishness.

I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly;

I go mourning all the day long.

For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease:

And there is no soundness in my flesh.

I am feeble and sore broken:

I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

Public Domain