Psalms 38
Theme: Sorrow for sin brings hope. God alone is the true source of healing and protection for those who confess their sins to him.
A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.
1O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. +
2For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. +
3There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. +
4For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. +
5My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. +
6I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. +
7For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. +
8I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. +
9Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. +
10My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. +
11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
12They 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. +
13But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
14Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. +
16For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. +
17For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. +
18For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. +
19But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. +
20They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is. +
21Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. +
22Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation. +