Psalms 38
The psalmist, overwhelmed by his own sin and the wrath of God, cries out for mercy and relief from his suffering. He acknowledges the weight of his iniquities and the pain they have caused him, and he confesses his misery and humiliation. Despite being surrounded by enemies who seek to harm him, the psalmist places his hope in God, asking for His help and salvation.
1A Psalm of David, in commemoration of the Sabbath. O Lord, do not rebuke me in your fury, nor chastise me in your wrath2For your arrows have been driven into me, and your hand has been confirmed over me3There is no health in my flesh before the face of your wrath. There is no peace for my bones before the face of my sins4For my iniquities have walked over my head, and they have been like a heavy burden weighing upon me5My sores have putrefied and been corrupted before the face of my foolishness6I have become miserable, and I have been bent down, even to the end. I have walked with contrition all day long7For my loins have been filled with illusions, and there is no health in my flesh8I have been afflicted and greatly humbled. I bellowed from the groaning of my heart9O Lord, all my desire is before you, and my groaning before you has not been hidden10My heart has been disturbed. My strength has abandoned me, and the light of my eyes has abandoned me, and it is not with me11My friends and my neighbors have drawn near and stood against me. And those who were next to me stood far apart. And those who sought my soul used violence12And those who sought evil accusations against me were speaking emptiness. And they practiced deceitfulness all day long13But, like someone deaf, I did not hear. And I was like someone mute, not opening his mouth14And I became like a man who does not hear, and who has no reproofs in his mouth15For in you, Lord, I have hoped. You will listen to me, O Lord my God16For I said, "Lest at any time, my enemies might rejoice over me," and, "While my feet are being shaken, they have spoken great things against me.17For I have been prepared for scourges, and my sorrow is ever before me18For I will announce my iniquity, and I will think about my sin19But my enemies live, and they have been stronger than me. And those who have wrongfully hated me have been multiplied20Those who render evil for good have dragged me down, because I followed goodness21Do not forsake me, O Lord my God. Do not depart from me22Be attentive to my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation
Share this chapter