Psalm 38

Psalm 38 – New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 38^[a]

A psalm of David. A petition.

1. Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
2. Your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down on me.
3. Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
4. My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
5. My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.
6. I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning.
7. My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body.
8. I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.
9. All my longings lie open before you, Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10. My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.
11. My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.
12. Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie.
13. I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, 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 for you; you will answer, Lord my God.
16. For I said, “Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”
17. For I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18. I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.
19. Many have become my enemies without cause^[b]; those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20. Those who repay my good with evil lodge accusations against me, though I seek only to do what is good.
21. Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God.
22. Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior.

Footnotes

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 38 – King James Version (KJV)

A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.

1. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2. For thine arrows stick fast in me,And thy hand presseth me sore.
3. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; Neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
4. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head:As an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
5. My wounds stink and are corrupt Because of my foolishness.
6. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
7. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: And there is no soundness in my flesh.
8. I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
9. Lord, all my desire is before thee; And my groaning is not hid from thee.
10. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
11. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; And my kinsmen stand afar off.
12. They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
13. But I, as a deaf man, heard not; And I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
14. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, And in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15. For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: Thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
16. For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
17. For I am ready to halt, And my sorrow is continually before me.
18. For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
19. But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
20. They also that render evil for good Are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
21. Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
22. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.