Psalm 38

A psalm of David, asking God to remember him. ¹O LORD, don’t rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage! ² Your arrows have struck deep, and your blows are crushing me. ³ Because of your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins. ⁴ My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear. ⁵ My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins. ⁶ I am bent over and racked with pain. All day long I walk around filled with grief. ⁷ A raging fever burns within me, and my health is broken. ⁸ I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart.

⁹You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh. ¹⁰ My heart beats wildly, my strength fails, and I am going blind. ¹¹ My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease. Even my own family stands at a distance. ¹² Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me. Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me. All day long they plan their treachery.

¹³But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak. ¹⁴ I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply. ¹⁵ For I am waiting for you, O LORD. You must answer for me, O Lord my God. ¹⁶ I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me or rejoice at my downfall.”

¹⁷I am on the verge of collapse, facing constant pain. ¹⁸ But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done. ¹⁹ I have many aggressive enemies; they hate me without reason. ²⁰ They repay me evil for good and oppose me for pursuing good. ²¹ Do not abandon me, O LORD. Do not stand at a distance, my God. ²² Come quickly to help me, O Lord my savior.