1 A Psalm. Of David. To keep in memory.

2 \38:1\O Lord, be not bitter with me in your wrath; let not your hand be on me in the heat of your passion.

3 \38:2\For your arrows have gone into my flesh, and I am crushed under the weight of your hand.

4 \38:3\My flesh is wasted because of your wrath; and there is no peace in my bones because of my sin.

5 \38:4\For my crimes have gone over my head; they are like a great weight which is more than my strength.

6 \38:5\My wounds are poisoned and evil-smelling, because of my foolish behaviour.

7 \38:6\I am troubled, I am made low; I go weeping all the day.

8 \38:7\For my body is full of burning; all my flesh is unhealthy.

9 \38:8\I am feeble and crushed down; I gave a cry like a lion because of the grief in my heart.

10 \38:9\Lord, all my desire is before you; my sorrow is not kept secret from you.

11 \38:10\My heart goes out in pain, my strength is wasting away; as for the light of my eyes, it is gone from me.

12 \38:11\My lovers and my friends keep away from my disease; my relations keep far away.

13 \38:12\Those who have a desire to take my life put nets for me; those who are designing my destruction say evil things against me, all the day their minds are full of deceit.

14 \38:13\But I kept my ears shut like a man without hearing; like a man without a voice, never opening his mouth.

15 \38:14\So I was like a man whose ears are shut, and in whose mouth there are no sharp words.

16 \38:15\In you, O Lord, is my hope: you will give me an answer, O Lord, my God.

17 \38:16\I said, Let them not be glad over me; when my foot is moved, let them not be lifted up with pride against me.

18 \38:17\My feet are near to falling, and my sorrow is ever before me.

19 \38:18\I will make clear my wrongdoing, with sorrow in my heart for my sin.

20 \38:19\But they are strong who have hate for me without cause: those who are against me falsely are increased in numbers.

21 \38:20\They give me back evil for good; they are my haters because I go after the thing which is right.

22 \38:21\Do not give me up, O Lord; O my God, be near to me.

23 \38:22\Come quickly to give me help, O Lord, my salvation.