Psalms

The first book of Psalms, song 38, New English Translation and King James Version

Psalm 38

New English Translation

A psalm of David, written to get God's attention.

   1 O LORD, do not continue to rebuke me in your anger! Do not continue to punish me in your raging fury!
   2 For your arrows pierce me, and your hand presses me down.
   3 My whole body is sick because of your judgment; I am deprived of health because of my sin.
   4 For my sins overwhelm me; like a heavy load, they are too much for me to bear.
   5 My wounds are infected and starting to smell, because of my foolish sins.
   6 I am dazed and completely humiliated; all day long I walk around mourning.
   7 For I am overcome with shame and my whole body is sick.
   8 I am numb with pain and severely battered; I groan loudly because of the anxiety I feel.
   9 O LORD, you understand my heart's desire; my groaning is not hidden from you.
   10 My heart beats quickly; my strength leaves me; I can hardly see.
   11 Because of my condition, even my friends and acquaintances keep their distance; my neighbors stand far away.
   12 Those who seek my life try to entrap me; those who want to harm me speak destructive words; all day long they say deceitful things.
   13 But I am like a deaf man - I hear nothing; I am like a mute who cannot speak.
   14 I am like a man who cannot hear and is incapable of arguing his defense.
   15 Yet I wait for you, O LORD! You will respond, O LORD, my God!
   16 I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me; when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me.
   17 For I am about to stumble, and I am in constant pain.
   18 Yes, I confess my wrongdoing, and I am concerned about my sins.
   19 But those who are my enemies for no reason are numerous; those who hate me without cause outnumber me.
   20 They repay me evil for the good I have done; though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me.
   21 Do not abandon me, O LORD! My God, do not remain far away from me! 22 Hurry and help me, O LORD, my deliverer!

King James Version

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.