Psalm 38

New International Version

Psalm 38^[a]

A psalm of David. A petition.

¹Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.^(A)
²Your arrows^(B) have pierced me,
    and your hand has come down on me.
³Because of your wrath there is no health^(C) in my body;
    there is no soundness in my bones^(D) because of my sin.
⁴My guilt has overwhelmed^(E) me
    like a burden too heavy to bear.^(F)

⁵My wounds^(G) fester and are loathsome^(H)
    because of my sinful folly.^(I)
⁶I am bowed down^(J) and brought very low;
    all day long I go about mourning.^(K)
⁷My back is filled with searing pain;^(L)
    there is no health^(M) in my body.
⁸I am feeble and utterly crushed;^(N)
    I groan^(O) in anguish of heart.^(P)

⁹All my longings^(Q) lie open before you, Lord;
    my sighing^(R) is not hidden from you.
¹⁰My heart pounds,^(S) my strength fails^(T) me;
    even the light has gone from my eyes.^(U)
¹¹My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;^(V)
    my neighbors stay far away.
¹²Those who want to kill me set their traps,^(W)
    those who would harm me talk of my ruin;^(X)
    all day long they scheme and lie.^(Y)

¹³I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,^(Z)
    like the mute, who cannot speak;
¹⁴I have become like one who does not hear,
    whose mouth can offer no reply.
¹⁵Lord, I wait^(AA) for you;
    you will answer,^(AB) Lord my God.
¹⁶For I said, “Do not let them gloat^(AC)
    or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”^(AD)

¹⁷For I am about to fall,^(AE)
    and my pain^(AF) is ever with me.
¹⁸I confess my iniquity;^(AG)
    I am troubled by my sin.
¹⁹Many have become my enemies^(AH) without cause^[b];
    those who hate me^(AI) without reason^(AJ) are numerous.
²⁰Those who repay my good with evil^(AK)
    lodge accusations^(AL) against me,
    though I seek only to do what is good.