Psalms 38

1Unto the end, for Idithun himself, a canticle of David.

1 O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thy wrath; Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2I said: I will take heed to my ways: that I sin not with my tongue. I have set a guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against me.

2For thine arrows stick fast in me, And thy hand presseth me sore.

3I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from good things: and my sorrow was renewed.

3There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine indignation; Neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

4My heart grew hot within me: and in my meditation a fire shall flame out.

4For mine iniquities are gone over my head: As a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5I spoke with my tongue: O Lord, make me know my end. And what is the number of my days: that I may know what is wanting to me.

5My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, Because of my foolishness.

6Behold thou hast made my days measurable. and my substance is as nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man living.

6I am pained and bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

7Surely man passeth as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in vain. He storeth up: and he knoweth not for whom he shall gather these things.

7For my loins are filled with burning; And there is no soundness in my flesh.

8And now what is my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is with thee.

8I am faint and sore bruised: I have groaned by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9Deliver thou me from all my iniquities: thou hast made me a reproach to the fool.

9Lord, all my desire is before thee; And my groaning is not hid from thee.

10I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done it.

10My heart throbbeth, my strength faileth me: As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

11Remove thy scourges from me. The strength of thy hand hath made me faint in rebukes:

11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague; And my kinsmen stand afar off.

12Thou hast corrected man for iniquity. And thou hast made his soul to waste away like a spider: surely in vain is any man disquieted.

12They also that seek after my life lay snares for me; And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, And meditate deceits all the day long.

13Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my tears. Be no silent: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner as all my fathers were.

13But I, as a deaf man, hear not; And I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

14O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be no more.

14Yea, I am as a man that heareth not, And in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15(not in this translation)

15For in thee, O Jehovah, do I hope: Thou wilt answer, O Lord my God.

16(not in this translation)

16For I said, Lest they rejoice over me: When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

17(not in this translation)

17For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me.

18(not in this translation)

18For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

19(not in this translation)

19But mine enemies are lively, and are strong; And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

20(not in this translation)

20They also that render evil for good Are adversaries unto me, because I follow the thing that is good.

21(not in this translation)

21Forsake me not, O Jehovah: O my God, be not far from me.

22(not in this translation)

22Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.