Psalm 38

¹ PUT me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger * neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure.

² For thine arrows stick fast in me * and thy hand presseth me sore.

³ There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure * neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin.

⁴ For my wickednesses are gone over my head * and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear.

⁵ My wounds stink, and are corrupt * through my foolishness.

⁶ I am brought into so great trouble and misery * that I go mourning all the day long.

⁷ For my loins are filled with a sore disease * and there is no whole part in my body.

⁸ I am feeble, and sore smitten * I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart.

⁹ Lord, thou knowest all my desire * and my groaning is not hid from thee.

¹⁰ My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me * and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me.

¹¹ My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking upon my trouble * and my kinsmen stood afar off.

¹² They also that sought after my life laid snares for me * and they that went about to do me evil talked of wickedness, and imagined deceit all the day long.

¹³ As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not * and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth.

¹⁴ I became even as a man that heareth not * and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

¹⁵ For in thee, O Lord, have I put my trust * thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God.

¹⁶ I have required that they, even mine enemies, should not triumph over me * for when my foot slipped, they rejoiced greatly against me.

¹⁷ And I, truly, am set in the plague * and my heaviness is ever in my sight.

¹⁸ For I will confess my wickedness * and be sorry for my sin.

¹⁹ But mine enemies live, and are mighty * and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number.

²⁰ They also that reward evil for good are against me * because I follow the thing that good is.

²¹ Forsake me not, O Lord my God * be not thou far from me.

²² Haste thee to help me * O Lord God of my salvation.