Psalm 38:1-8

1 Ein Psalm von David zum Gedächtnis. Jehova, strafe mich nicht in deinem Zorn, noch züchtige mich in deinem Grimm!

2 Denn deine Pfeile sind in mich eingedrungen, und deine Hand hat sich auf mich herabgesenkt.

3 Nichts Heiles ist an meinem Fleische wegen deines Zürnens, kein Frieden in meinen Gebeinen wegen meiner Sünde.

4 Denn meine Ungerechtigkeiten sind über mein Haupt gegangen, wie eine schwere Last sind sie zu schwer für mich.

5 Es stinken, es eitern meine Wunden wegen meiner Torheit.

6 Ich bin gekrümmt, über die Maßen gebeugt; den ganzen Tag gehe ich trauernd einher.

7 Denn voll Brand sind meine Lenden, und nichts Heiles ist an meinem Fleische.

8 Ich bin ermattet und über die Maßen zerschlagen, ich heule vor Gestöhn meines Herzens.

Psalm 38:1-8 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.