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A song of David for the day of remembrance.[a]

38 Lord, don’t criticize me when you are angry.
    Don’t discipline me in anger.
You have hurt me.
    You punished me and hurt me deeply.
You punished me severely, so my whole body is sore.
    I sinned, and now all my bones hurt.
My guilt is like a heavy burden.
    I am sinking beneath its weight.
I did a foolish thing,
    and now I have infected sores that stink.
I am bent and bowed down.
    I am depressed all day long.
I am burning with fever,
    and my whole body hurts.
I hurt so much I cannot feel anything.
    My pounding heart makes me scream!
My Lord, you heard my groaning.
    You can hear my sighs.
10 My heart is pounding.
    My strength is gone, and I am going blind.[b]
11 Because of my sickness,
    my friends and neighbors will not visit me;
    my family will not come near me.
12 My enemies say bad things about me.
    They are spreading lies and rumors.
    They talk about me all the time.
13 But I am like a deaf man and cannot hear.
    I am like someone who cannot speak.
14 I am like those who cannot hear what people are saying about them.
    I cannot answer to prove my enemies wrong.
15 Lord, you must defend me.
    Lord my God, you must speak for me.
16 That’s why I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies smile at my pain.
    Full of pride, they will laugh if I stumble and fall.”
17 I know I am guilty of doing wrong.
    I cannot forget my pain.
18 Lord, I told you about the evil I have done.
    I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my enemies are alive and healthy,
    and they have told many lies.
20 I did nothing but good,
    and they paid me back with evil.
I try to do what is right,
    but that only makes them turn against me.
21 Lord, don’t leave me.
    My God, stay close to me.
22 Come quickly and help me.
    My Lord, you are the one who saves me.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 38:1 Psalm 38 for … remembrance The ancient Greek version has “for the Sabbath.”
  2. Psalm 38:10 I am going blind Or “My eyes have lost their sparkle.” Literally, “Even the light of my eyes is no longer with me.”

Psalm 38[a]

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.
10 My heart pounds,(S) my strength fails(T) me;
    even the light has gone from my eyes.(U)
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;(V)
    my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,(W)
    those who would harm me talk of my ruin;(X)
    all day long they scheme and lie.(Y)

13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,(Z)
    like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
    whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait(AA) for you;
    you will answer,(AB) Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat(AC)
    or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”(AD)

17 For I am about to fall,(AE)
    and my pain(AF) is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;(AG)
    I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies(AH) without cause[b];
    those who hate me(AI) without reason(AJ) are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil(AK)
    lodge accusations(AL) against me,
    though I seek only to do what is good.

21 Lord, do not forsake me;(AM)
    do not be far(AN) from me, my God.
22 Come quickly(AO) to help me,(AP)
    my Lord and my Savior.(AQ)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
  2. Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies