Psalms 38:1-21

¹A psalm of David, for a memorial. Lord, please don't condemn me because you're angry with me; don't punish me because you're furious with me!

²Your arrows have pierced me deeply, your hand has come down hard on me.

³Because you're so upset with me, not a single part of my body is healthy; I am completely sick because of my sins.

⁴I'm drowning in guilt—the burden is too heavy to bear.

⁵My wounds are infected—they're smelling—all because of my stupidity.

⁶I am bent over, doubled up in pain. The whole day I walk around crying my eyes out.

⁷Inside I'm burning up with fever; no part of my body is healthy.

⁸I'm worn out, totally down. I groan because of the anguish I feel in my heart.

⁹Lord, you know what I desperately want, you hear every sigh I make.

¹⁰My heart is racing, leaving me with no strength; my eyesight is failing.

¹¹My loved ones and my friends don't come near me because they're afraid of what I've got. Even my family keeps me at a distance.

¹²Those who are trying to kill me set traps for me; those who want to hurt me make threats against me, working on their deceitful schemes all day long.

¹³I act as if I'm deaf to what they're saying, and pretend to be dumb so I don't have to speak.

¹⁴Like a man who can't hear, and who doesn't reply—that's me!

¹⁵For I'm waiting on you, Lord! You will answer for me, my Lord and my God.

¹⁶I'm asking you, Lord, please don't let my enemies gloat over me, don't let them be glad when I trip up.

¹⁷For I'm about ready to collapse—the pain never stops.

¹⁸I do confess my sins; I am terribly sorry for what I've done.

¹⁹I have many powerful enemies—they are very active, hating me for no reason.

²⁰They pay me back evil for good; they accuse me for the good I try to do.

²¹Don't give up on me, my Lord and my God, don't stay away from me.