Psalm 38

Psalm 38

A psalm of David. A petition.

^*Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger

or discipline me in your wrath.^a

Your arrows^b have pierced me,

and your hand has come down on me.

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

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

My guilt has overwhelmed^e me

like a burden too heavy to bear.^f

My wounds^g fester and are loathsome^h

because of my sinful folly.ⁱ

I am bowed down^j and brought very low;

all day long I go about mourning.^k

My back is filled with searing pain;^l

there is no health^m in my body.

I am feeble and utterly crushed;ⁿ

I groan^o in anguish of heart.^p

All my longings^q lie open before you, Lord;

my sighing^r is not hidden from you.

My heart pounds,^s my strength fails^t me;

even the light has gone from my eyes.^u

My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;^v

my neighbors stay far away.

Those who seek my life set their traps,^w

those who would harm me talk of my ruin;^x

all day long they scheme and lie.^y

I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,^z

like the mute, who cannot speak;

I have become like one who does not hear,

whose mouth can offer no reply.

Lord, I wait^a for you;

you will answer,^b Lord my God.

For I said, “Do not let them gloat^c

or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”^d

For I am about to fall,^e

and my pain^f is ever with me.

I confess my iniquity;^g

I am troubled by my sin.

Many have become my enemies^h without cause;

those who hate meⁱ without reason^j are numerous.

Those who repay my good with evil^k

lodge accusations^l against me,

though I seek only to do what is good.

Lord, do not forsake me;^m

do not be farⁿ from me, my God.

Come quickly^o to help me,^p

my Lord and my Savior.^q