Psalms 38:1-22

¹A psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. Yahweh, do not rebuke me in your anger; do not punish me in your wrath.

²For your arrows pierce me, and your hand presses me down.

³My whole body is sick because of your anger; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.

⁴For my iniquities overwhelm me; they are a burden too heavy for me.

⁵My wounds are infected and smell because of my foolish sins.

⁶I am stooped over and humiliated every day; I go about mourning all day long.

⁷For within me, I am filled with burning; there is no health in my flesh.

⁸I am numb and utterly crushed; I groan because of the anguish of my heart.

⁹Lord, you understand my heart's deepest yearnings, and my groanings are not hidden from you.

¹⁰My heart pounds, my strength fades, and my eyesight dims.

¹¹My friends and companions shun me because of my condition; my neighbors stand far off.

¹²Those who seek my life lay snares for me. They who seek my harm speak destructive words and say deceitful words all day long.

¹³But I, I am like a deaf man and hear nothing; I am like a mute man who says nothing.

¹⁴I am like a man who does not hear and who has no reply.

¹⁵Surely I wait for you, Yahweh; you will answer, Lord my God.

¹⁶I say this so that my enemies will not gloat over me. If my foot slips, they will do terrible things to me.

¹⁷For I am about to stumble, and I am in constant pain.

¹⁸I confess my guilt; I am concerned about my sin.

¹⁹But my enemies are numerous; those who hate me wrongfully are many.

²⁰They repay me evil for good; they hurl accusations at me although I have pursued what is good.

²¹Do not abandon me, Yahweh; my God, do not stay far away from me.

²²Come quickly to help me, Lord, my salvation.