Psalms 38

38 ¹O my Father, do not rebuke me in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. ²For your arrows have sunk deep into me, and your hand has come down hard on me. ³There is no health in my body because of your anger; there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.

⁴For my sins have risen over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. ⁵My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness. ⁶I am bent over and bowed down low; all day long I go about mourning. ⁷For my sides are on fire, and there is no soundness in my flesh.

⁸I am numb and utterly crushed; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. ⁹O Sovereign Father, all my longing is before you, and my sighing is not hidden from you. ¹⁰My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light of my eyes has gone from me. ¹¹My friends and companions keep their distance from my affliction, and my nearest kin stand far off.

¹²Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my harm speak of ruin and plot deceit all day long. ¹³But I am like a deaf man who cannot hear, like one who cannot speak and will not open his mouth. ¹⁴I have become like a man who does not hear, who has no answer in his mouth. ¹⁵But for you, my Father, I wait; it is you who will answer, O my Sovereign Father.

¹⁶For I said, "Let them never gloat over me—those who boast over me when my foot slips." ¹⁷For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me. ¹⁸I confess my guilt; I am troubled by my sin. ¹⁹But my enemies are vigorous and strong, and many are those who hate me without cause.

²⁰Those who repay me evil for good accuse me because I pursue what is good. ²¹Do not forsake me, my Father; do not stand far from me, my Father. ²²Hurry to help me, O Sovereign Father, my salvation.