Psalms 38:11-21

11 My 1friends and companions 2stand aloof from my 3plague, and my nearest kin 4stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life 5lay their snares; those who seek my hurt 6speak of ruin and meditate 7treachery all day long.
13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like 8a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no 9rebukes.
15 But for 10you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, "Only 11let them not rejoice over me, who 12boast against me when my 13foot slips!"
17 For I am 14ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me.
18 I 15confess my iniquity; I am 16sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me 17wrongfully.
20 Those who 18render me evil for good 19accuse me because I 20follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not 21far from me!

Psalms 38:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 38

\\<>\\. This psalm was composed by David under some sore affliction, and when in great distress of mind by reason of sin, perhaps his sin with Bathsheba; and was written as a memorial of his sense of sin, of his great afflictions, and deliverance from them; and therefore is said to be "to bring to remembrance", or to refresh his memory with the said things. Kimchi and Ben Melech think the psalm was made for the sake of such as are in distress, to put them in mind and teach them how to pray. The Targum calls the psalm, ``a good remembrance concerning Israel;'' and Jarchi says it was to remember the distress of Israel before the Lord, and that it is said with respect to all Israel; though others think the word "lehazcir" is the name of a psalm tune; and Aben Ezra was of opinion that it was the first word of some pleasant poem. The Septuagint version adds, ``concerning the sabbath,'' as if it was wrote to put persons in mind of that day; whereas there is nothing in the whole psalm that has any such tendency.

Cross References 21

  • 1. Psalms 88:18; See Job 19:13-20
  • 2. [Luke 10:31, 32]
  • 3. Psalms 39:10; Isaiah 53:4, 8
  • 4. [Matthew 27:55; Mark 15:40; Luke 23:49]
  • 5. [Matthew 22:15]; Mark 12:13; Luke 20:20; See 2 Samuel 17:1-3
  • 6. [2 Samuel 16:7, 8]
  • 7. Psalms 35:20
  • 8. Psalms 39:2, 9; Isaiah 53:7; 1 Peter 2:23
  • 9. [Job 23:4]
  • 10. Psalms 39:7; [2 Samuel 16:12]
  • 11. [Psalms 13:4]
  • 12. See Job 19:5
  • 13. Psalms 94:18
  • 14. Psalms 35:15; Jeremiah 20:10
  • 15. See Psalms 32:5
  • 16. [2 Corinthians 7:9, 10]
  • 17. Psalms 35:19
  • 18. See Psalms 35:12
  • 19. Psalms 109:4
  • 20. [3 John 11]
  • 21. See Psalms 10:1
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.