Psalms 38
38
Prayer of an Afflicted Sinner
1A psalm of David. For remembrance.
I
2Lord, do not punish me in your anger;
in your wrath do not chastise me!#Ps 6:2.
3Your arrows have sunk deep in me;#Jb 6:4; Lam 3:12; Ps 31:11; 64:7.
your hand has come down upon me.
4There is no wholesomeness in my flesh because of your anger;
there is no health in my bones because of my sin.#Is 1:5–6.
5My iniquities overwhelm me,
a burden too heavy for me.#Ps 40:13; Ezr 9:6.
II
6Foul and festering are my sores
because of my folly.
7I am stooped and deeply bowed;#Ps 35:14.
every day I go about mourning.
8My loins burn with fever;
there is no wholesomeness in my flesh.
9I am numb and utterly crushed;
I wail with anguish of heart.#Ps 102:4–6.
10My Lord, my deepest yearning is before you;
my groaning is not hidden from you.
11My heart shudders, my strength forsakes me;
the very light of my eyes has failed.#Ps 6:8; 31:10.
12Friends and companions shun my disease;
my neighbors stand far off.
13Those who seek my life lay snares for me;
they seek my misfortune, they speak of ruin;
they plot treachery every day.
III
14But I am like the deaf, hearing nothing,
like the mute, I do not open my mouth,
15I am even like someone who does not hear,
who has no answer ready.
16Lord, it is for you that I wait;
O Lord, my God, you respond.#Ps 13:4.
17For I have said that they would gloat over me,
exult over me if I stumble.
IV
18I am very near to falling;
my wounds are with me always.
19I acknowledge my guilt
and grieve over my sin.#Ps 32:5; 51:5.
20My enemies live and grow strong,
those who hate me grow numerous fraudulently,
21Repaying me evil for good,
accusing me for pursuing good.#Ps 109:5.
22Do not forsake me, O Lord;
my God, be not far from me!#Ps 22:2, 12, 20; 35:22.
23Come quickly to help me,#Ps 40:14.
my Lord and my salvation!
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Psalms 38
38
A psalm of David, asking God to remember him.
1O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your rage!
2Your arrows have struck deep,
and your blows are crushing me.
3Because of your anger, my whole body is sick;
my health is broken because of my sins.
4My guilt overwhelms me—
it is a burden too heavy to bear.
5My wounds fester and stink
because of my foolish sins.
6I am bent over and racked with pain.
All day long I walk around filled with grief.
7A raging fever burns within me,
and my health is broken.
8I am exhausted and completely crushed.
My groans come from an anguished heart.
9You know what I long for, Lord;
you hear my every sigh.
10My heart beats wildly, my strength fails,
and I am going blind.
11My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease.
Even my own family stands at a distance.
12Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me.
Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me.
All day long they plan their treachery.
13But I am deaf to all their threats.
I am silent before them as one who cannot speak.
14I choose to hear nothing,
and I make no reply.
15For I am waiting for you, O Lord.
You must answer for me, O Lord my God.
16I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me
or rejoice at my downfall.”
17I am on the verge of collapse,
facing constant pain.
18But I confess my sins;
I am deeply sorry for what I have done.
19I have many aggressive enemies;
they hate me without reason.
20They repay me evil for good
and oppose me for pursuing good.
21Do not abandon me, O Lord.
Do not stand at a distance, my God.
22Come quickly to help me,
O Lord my savior.
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