Psalms 38:1-21

¹A Psalm by David, for a memorial. Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.

²For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me.

³There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

⁴For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

⁵My wounds are loathsome and corrupt because of my foolishness.

⁶I am in pain and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long.

⁷For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh.

⁸I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.

⁹Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you.

¹⁰My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.

¹¹My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away.

¹²They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long.

¹³But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth.

¹⁴Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs.

¹⁵For I hope in you, Yahweh. You will answer, Lord my God.

¹⁶For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”

¹⁷For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me.

¹⁸For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin.

¹⁹But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous.

²⁰They who render evil for good are also adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.

²¹Don’t forsake me, Yahweh. My God, don’t be far from me.