Psalm 38

Prayer in Time of Chastening

A Psalm of David. aTo Bring to Remembrance.

1 O Lord, do not brebuke me in Your wrath,

Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!

2 For Your arrows pierce me deeply,

And Your hand presses me down.

3 There is no soundness in my flesh

Because of Your anger,

Nor any health in my bones

Because of my sin.

4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;

Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds are foul and festering

Because of my foolishness.

6 I am 1troubled, I am bowed down greatly;

I go mourning all the day long.

7 For my loins are full of inflammation,

And there is no soundness in my flesh.

8 I am feeble and severely broken;

I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.

9 Lord, all my desire is before You;

And my sighing is not hidden from You.

10 My heart pants, my strength fails me;

As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.

11 My loved ones and my friends cstand 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 2in You, O Lord, dI hope;

You will 3hear, 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.”

17 eFor I am ready to fall,

And my sorrow is continually before me.

18 For I will fdeclare my iniquity;

I will be gin 4anguish over my sin.

19 But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong;

And those who hate me wrongfully have multiplied.

20 Those also hwho render evil for good,

They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.

21 Do not forsake me, O Lord;

O my God, ibe not far from me!

22 Make haste to help me,

O Lord, my salvation!