Psalm 38 (NASB2020)

Psalm 38

Prayer of a Suffering Penitent.

A Psalm of David, for a memorial.

1Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath,

And do not punish me in Your burning anger.

2For Your arrows have sunk deep into me,

And Your hand has pressed down on me.

3There is no healthy part in my flesh because of Your indignation;

There is no health in my bones because of my sin.

4For my guilty deeds have gone over my head;

Like a heavy burden they weigh too much for me.

5My 38:5 Or stripeswounds grow foul and fester

Because of my foolishness.

6I am bent over and greatly bowed down;

I go in mourning all day long.

7For my 38:7 Lit loinssides are filled with burning,

And there is no healthy part in my flesh.

8I feel faint and 38:8 Or greatlybadly crushed;

I 38:8 Lit roargroan because of the 38:8 Lit growlingagitation of my heart.

9¶Lord, all my desire is 38:9 Or known to Youbefore You;

And my sighing is not hidden from You.

10My heart throbs, my strength fails me;

And the light of my eyes, even 38:10 Lit they havethat 38:10 Lit is not with mehas gone from me.

11My 38:11 Or loversloved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague;

And my kinsmen stand far away.

12Those who seek my life lay snares for me;

And those who seek to injure me have 38:12 Lit spokenthreatened destruction,

And they plot deception all day long.

13¶But I, like a person who is deaf, do not hear;

And I am like a person who cannot speak, who does not open his mouth.

14Yes, I am like a person who does not hear,

And in whose mouth are no arguments.

15For I wait for You, Lord;

You will answer, Lord my God.

16For I said, “May they not rejoice over me,

Who, when my foot slips, would exalt themselves over me.”

17For I am ready to fall,

And my 38:17 Lit painsorrow is continually before me.

18For I admit my guilt;

I am full of anxiety because of my sin.

19But my enemies are vigorous and 38:19 Or numerousstrong,

And those who wrongfully hate me are many.

20And those who repay evil for good,

They become my enemies, because I follow what is good.

21Do not abandon me, Lord;

My God, do not be far from me!

22Hurry to help me,

Lord, my salvation!

Understand Psalm 38

Walk through Psalm 38 verse by verse, then read what three commentaries say about the chapter. The explanations are written for new readers.

Read the Psalm 38 commentary