1 O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. |
2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. |
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. |
4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. |
5 My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. |
6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. |
7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. |
8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. |
9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. |
10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. |
11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off. |
12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. |
13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. |
14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. |
15 For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. |
16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. |
17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. |
18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. |
19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. |
20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is. |
21 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. |
22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. |
38 David complains of God's displeasure and his own sin, Psa 38:1-5.
Of his bodily sickness, Psa 38:6-10.
Of the unkindness of his friends and the injuries of his enemies, Psa 38:11-20.
Prays to God for help, Psa 38:21-22.
A psalm of David to bring to remembrance.
Title of the psalm. To bring, etc - Either, to God, that by this humble and mournful prayer, he might prevail with God, to remember and pity him; or, to himself, that by reviewing this psalm afterwards, he might call to mind his former danger and misery, and God's wonderful mercy in delivering him; and that others also might remember what God had done to him.
38:2 Arrows - Thy judgments outward and inward.
38:3 Sin - Which hath provoked thee to deal thus severely with me.
38:4 Iniquities - Or, the punishment of mine iniquities, as this word is frequently used. Are gone - Like deep waters wherewith I am overwhelmed.
38:5 Foolishness - Sin.
38:7 Disease - The disease might be some burning fever, breaking forth outwardly in carbuncles, or boils. It is true, this and the other expressions may be taken figuratively, but we should not forsake the literal sense of the words without necessity.
38:12 Deceit - They design mischief, but cover it with fair pretences.
38:13 Dumb - Was silent, to testify his humiliation for his sins, and his acceptation of the punishment which he had brought upon himself.
38:16 When - When I fall into any misery, they triumph in the accomplishment of their desires.
38:17 To halt - just falling into destruction. Before me - I am constantly sensible of thy just hand, and of my sins the cause of it.
38:18 Declare - To thee.
38:19 Strong - Are thriving and flourishing.