Old Testament · Psalms

Psalms 38

Do Not Rebuke Me in Your Anger

(Psalm 6:1–10)

1A psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.

2The LORD, do not rebuke me in your wrath, and do not chasten me in your fury.
3For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down upon me.
4There is no soundness in my flesh^a because of your indignation; there is no peace in my bones because of my sin.
5For my iniquities have passed over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
6My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness.
7I am bent, I am bowed down exceedingly; all the day I go about mourning.
8For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
9I am benumbed and crushed exceedingly; I roar from the groaning of my heart.
10My Lord^b, all my desire is before you, and my sighing is not hidden from you.
11My heart palpitates, my strength has forsaken me; and the light of my eyes, even they are not with me.
12My lovers and my companions stand away from my plague, and my near ones stand afar off.
13And those who seek my soul^c lay snares, and those who seek my hurt speak ruin; and deceits all the day they meditate.
14But I, like a deaf man, do not hear, and like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
15And I have become like a man^d who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no arguments.
16For in you, O LORD, do I hope; you will answer, my Lord my God.
17For I said, "Lest they rejoice over me; when my foot slips, they magnify themselves against me."
18For I am ready to stumble, and my pain is before me continually.
19For I declare my iniquity; I am anxious because of my sin.
20And my enemies are living^e and mighty, and those who hate me falsely are many.
21And those who repay evil for good are adversaries to me, because I pursue good.
22Do not forsake me, the LORD; my God, do not be far from me.
23Hasten to my help, my Lord, my deliverance.