Psalms 38
A psalm of David. For the memorial offering.
1Please, LORD, don’t punish me when you are mad; don’t discipline me when you are furious.2Your arrows have pierced me; your fist has come down hard on me.
3There’s nothing in my body that isn’t broken because of your rage; there’s no health in my bones because of my sin.
4My wrongdoings are stacked higher than my head; they are a weight that’s way too heavy for me.
5My wounds reek; they are all infected because of my stupidity.
6I am hunched over, completely down; I wander around all day long, sad.
7My insides are burning up; there’s nothing in my body that isn’t broken.
8I’m worn out, completely crushed; I groan because of my miserable heart.
9Everything I long for is laid out before you, my Lord; my sighs aren’t hidden from you.
10My heart pounds; my strength abandons me. Even the light of my eyes is gone.
11My loved ones and friends keep their distance from me in my sickness; those who were near me now stay far away.
12Those who want me dead lay traps; those who want me harmed utter threats, muttering lies all day long.
13But I’m like someone who is deaf, who can’t hear; like someone who can’t speak, whose mouth won’t open.
14I’ve become like a person who doesn’t hear what is being said, whose mouth has no good comeback.
15But I wait for you, LORD! You will answer, my Lord, my God!
16Because I prayed: “Don’t let them celebrate over me” “or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips,”
17because I’m very close to falling, and my pain is always with me.
18Yes, I confess my wrongdoing; I’m worried about my sin.
19But my mortal enemies are so strong; those who hate me for no reason seem countless.
20Those who give, repay good with evil; they oppose me for pursuing good.
21Don’t leave me all alone, LORD! Please, my God, don’t be far from me!
22Come quickly and help me, my Lord, my salvation!