Psalms 38
38
1-2Take a deep breath, God; calm down—
don’t be so hasty with your punishing rod.
Your sharp-pointed arrows of rebuke draw blood;
my backside stings from your discipline.
3-4I’ve lost twenty pounds in two months
because of your accusation.
My bones are brittle as dry sticks
because of my sin.
I’m swamped by my bad behavior,
collapsed under an avalanche of guilt.
5-8The cuts in my flesh stink and grow maggots
because I’ve lived so badly.
And now I’m flat on my face
feeling sorry for myself morning to night.
All my insides are on fire,
my body is a wreck.
I’m on my last legs; I’ve had it—
my life is a vomit of groans.
9-16Lord, my longings are sitting in plain sight,
my groans an old story to you.
My heart’s about to break;
I’m a burned-out case.
Cataracts blind me to God and good;
old friends avoid me like the plague.
My cousins never visit,
my neighbors stab me in the back.
My competitors blacken my name,
devoutly they pray for my ruin.
But I’m deaf and mute to it all,
ears shut, mouth shut.
I don’t hear a word they say,
don’t speak a word in response.
What I do, God, is wait for you,
wait for my Lord, my God—you will answer!
I wait and pray so they won’t laugh me off,
won’t smugly strut off when I stumble.
17-20I’m on the edge of losing it—
the pain in my gut keeps burning.
I’m ready to tell my story of failure,
I’m no longer smug in my sin.
My enemies are alive and in action,
a lynch mob after my neck.
I give out good and get back evil
from God-haters who can’t stand a God-lover.
21-22Don’t dump me, God;
my God, don’t stand me up.
Hurry and help me;
I want some wide-open space in my life!
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Psalms 38: MSG
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THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of NavPress. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers.
Psalms 38
38
(A psalm by David to be used when an offering is made.)
A Prayer in Times of Trouble
1When you are angry, Lord,
please don't punish me
or even correct me.
2You shot me with your arrows,
and you struck me
with your hand.
3My body hurts all over
because of your anger.
Even my bones are in pain,
and my sins 4are so heavy
that I am crushed.
5Because of my foolishness,
I am covered with sores
that stink and spread.
6My body is twisted and bent,
and I groan all day long.
7Fever has my back in flames,
and I hurt everywhere.
8I am worn out and weak,
moaning and in distress.
9You, Lord, know every one
of my deepest desires,
and my noisy groans
are no secret to you.
10My heart is beating fast.
I feel weak all over,
and my eyes are red.
11Because of my sickness,
no friends or neighbors
will come near me.
12All who want me dead
set traps to catch me,
and those who want
to harm and destroy me
plan and plot all day.
13I am not able to hear
or speak a word;
14I am completely deaf
and can't make a sound.
15I trust you, Lord God,
and you will do something.
16I said, “Don't let them laugh
or brag when I slip and fall.”
17I am about to collapse
from constant pain.
18I told you my sins,
and I am sorry for them.
19Many deadly and powerful
enemies hate me,
20and they repay evil for good
because I try to do right.
21You are the Lord God!
Stay nearby
and don't desert me.
22You are the one who saves me.
Please hurry and help.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.