A psalm of David, written to get God’s attention. 2
38:1 O Lord, do not continue to rebuke me in your anger!
Do not continue to punish me in your raging fury! 3
38:2 For your arrows pierce 4 me,
and your hand presses me down. 5
38:3 My whole body is sick because of your judgment; 6
I am deprived of health because of my sin. 7
38:4 For my sins overwhelm me; 8
like a heavy load, they are too much for me to bear.
38:5 My wounds 9 are infected and starting to smell, 10
because of my foolish sins. 11
38:6 I am dazed 12 and completely humiliated; 13
all day long I walk around mourning.
38:7 For I am overcome with shame 14
and my whole body is sick. 15
38:8 I am numb with pain and severely battered; 16
I groan loudly because of the anxiety I feel. 17
38:9 O Lord, you understand my heart’s desire; 18
my groaning is not hidden from you.
38:10 My heart beats quickly;
my strength leaves me;
I can hardly see. 19
38:11 Because of my condition, 20 even my friends and acquaintances keep their distance; 21
my neighbors stand far away. 22
38:12 Those who seek my life try to entrap me; 23
those who want to harm me speak destructive words;
all day long they say deceitful things.
38:13 But I am like a deaf man – I hear nothing;
I am like a mute who cannot speak. 24
38:14 I am like a man who cannot hear
and is incapable of arguing his defense. 25
38:15 Yet 26 I wait for you, O Lord!
You will respond, O Lord, my God!
38:16 I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me; 27
when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me. 28
38:17 For I am about to stumble,
and I am in constant pain. 29
38:18 Yes, 30 I confess my wrongdoing,
and I am concerned about my sins.
38:19 But those who are my enemies for no reason are numerous; 31
those who hate me without cause outnumber me. 32
38:20 They repay me evil for the good I have done;
though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me. 33
38:21 Do not abandon me, O Lord!
My God, do not remain far away from me!
38:22 Hurry and help me, 34 O Lord, my deliverer!