Psalms 38

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

1 O Lord, be not bitter with me in your wrath; let not your hand be on me in the heat of your passion.

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 your arrows have gone into my flesh, and I am crushed under the weight of your hand.

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

3My flesh is wasted because of your wrath; and there is no peace in my bones because of my sin.

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

4For my crimes have gone over my head; they are like a great weight which is more than my strength.

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 poisoned and evil-smelling, because of my foolish behaviour.

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 troubled, I am made low; I go weeping all the day.

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 body is full of burning; all my flesh is unhealthy.

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

8I am feeble and crushed down; I gave a cry like a lion because of the grief in my heart.

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

9Lord, all my desire is before you; my sorrow is not kept secret from you.

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

10My heart goes out in pain, my strength is wasting away; as for the light of my eyes, it 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 keep away from my disease; my relations keep far away.

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.

12Those who have a desire to take my life put nets for me; those who are designing my destruction say evil things against me, all the day their minds are full of deceit.

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 kept my ears shut like a man without hearing; like a man without a voice, never opening his mouth.

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

14So I was like a man whose ears are shut, and in whose mouth there are no sharp words.

15(not in this translation)

15In you, O Lord, is my hope: you will give me an answer, O Lord, my God.

16(not in this translation)

16I said, Let them not be glad over me; when my foot is moved, let them not be lifted up with pride against me.

17(not in this translation)

17My feet are near to falling, and my sorrow is ever before me.

18(not in this translation)

18I will make clear my wrongdoing, with sorrow in my heart for my sin.

19(not in this translation)

19But they are strong who have hate for me without cause: those who are against me falsely are increased in numbers.

20(not in this translation)

20They give me back evil for good; they are my haters because I go after the thing which is right.

21(not in this translation)

21Do not give me up, O Lord; O my God, be near to me.

22(not in this translation)

22Come quickly to give me help, O Lord, my salvation.