Psalm 38

Prayer of a Suffering Sinner

A Davidic psalm for remembrance.(A)

Lord, do not punish me in Your anger
or discipline me in Your wrath.(B)
For Your arrows have sunk into me,
and Your hand has pressed down on me.(C)

There is no health in my body
because of Your indignation;
there is no strength[a] in my bones
because of my sin.(D)
For my sins have flooded over my head;
they are a burden too heavy for me to bear.(E)
My wounds are foul and festering
because of my foolishness.(F)
I am bent over and brought low;
all day long I go around in mourning.(G)
For my loins are full of burning pain,
and there is no health in my body.(H)
I am faint and severely crushed;
I groan because of the anguish of my heart.(I)

Lord, my every desire is known to[b] You;
my sighing is not hidden from You.(J)
10 My heart races, my strength leaves me,
and even the light of my eyes has faded.[c](K)
11 My loved ones and friends stand back from my affliction,
and my relatives stand at a distance.(L)
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.(M)

13 I am like a deaf person; I do not hear.
I am like a speechless person
who does not open his mouth.(N)
14 I am like a man who does not hear
and has no arguments in his mouth.(O)
15 I put my hope in You, Lord;
You will answer, Lord my God.(P)
16 For I said, “Don’t let them rejoice over me—
those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble.”(Q)
17 For I am about to fall,
and my pain is constantly with me.(R)
18 So I confess my guilt;
I am anxious because of my sin.(S)
19 But my enemies are vigorous and powerful;[d]
many hate me for no reason.(T)
20 Those who repay evil for good
attack me for pursuing good.(U)

21 Lord, do not abandon me;
my God, do not be far from me.(V)
22 Hurry to help me,
Lord, my Savior.(W)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 38:3 Hb shalom
  2. Psalm 38:9 Lit is in front of
  3. Psalm 38:10 Or and the light of my eyes—even that is not with me
  4. Psalm 38:19 Or numerous

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