Psalms 38

Prayer of a Suffering Sinner

A psalm of David to bring remembrance. # 38:title Ps 70 title

1 Lord, do not punish me in your anger

or discipline me in your wrath.  * 38:1 Ps 6:1; Jr 10:24

2 For your arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand has pressed down on me.  * 38:2 Jb 6:4; Ps 32:4

3 There is no soundness in my body

because of your indignation;

there is no health  * 38:3 Hb shalom in my bones

because of my sin.  * 38:3 Jb 33:19; Ps 31:10; 102:10

4 For my iniquities have flooded over my head;

they are a burden too heavy for me to bear.  * 38:4 Ezr 9:6; Ps 40:12

5 My wounds are foul and festering

because of my foolishness.  * 38:5 Is 1:6

6 I am bent over and brought very low;

all day long I go around in mourning.  * 38:6 Ps 35:14

7 For my insides are full of burning pain,

and there is no soundness in my body.  * 38:7 Ps 38:3; Lm 1:13

8 I am faint and severely crushed;

I groan because of the anguish of my heart.  * 38:8 Jb 3:24; Ps 6:6; 32:3; Lm 2:11

9 Lord, my every desire is in front of you;

my sighing is not hidden from you.  * 38:9 Ps 10:17

10 My heart races, my strength leaves me,

and even the light of my eyes has faded.  * 38:10 Or and the light of my eyes — even that is not with me,* 38:10 Ps 6:7; 69:3; 88:9

11 My loved ones and friends stand back from my affliction,

and my relatives stand at a distance.  * 38:11 Jb 19:13–20; Ps 31:11; 88:18

12 Those who intend to kill me set traps,

and those who want to harm me threaten to destroy me;

they plot treachery all day long.  * 38:12 Ps 35:4,20; 54:3; 140:5

13 I am like a deaf person; I do not hear.

I am like a speechless person

who does not open his mouth.  * 38:13 Ps 39:2,9

14 I am like a man who does not hear

and has no arguments in his mouth.  * 38:14 Jb 23:4

15 For I put my hope in you, Lord;

you will answer me, my Lord, my God.  * 38:15 Ps 17:6; 39:7

16 For I said, "Don’t let them rejoice over me —

those who are arrogant toward me when I stumble."  * 38:16 Ps 13:4; 35:26

17 For I am about to fall,

and my pain is constantly with me.  * 38:17 Ps 13:2; 35:15

18 So I confess my iniquity;

I am anxious because of my sin.  * 38:18 Ps 32:5; 2Co 7:9–10

19 But my enemies are vigorous and powerful;  * 38:19 Or numerous

many hate me for no reason.  * 38:19 Ps 18:17; 35:19

20 Those who repay evil for good

attack me for pursuing good.  * 38:20 Ps 35:12; 109:5; 3Jn 11

21 Lord, do not abandon me;

my God, do not be far from me.  * 38:21 Ps 22:19; 35:22

22 Hurry to help me,

my Lord, my salvation.  * 38:22 Ps 40:13,17