Psalm 38:14-22

14 Und ich bin wie ein Mann, der nicht hört, und in dessen Munde keine Gegenreden sind.
15 Denn auf dich, Jehova, harre ich; du, du wirst antworten, Herr, mein Gott.
16 Denn ich sprach: Daß sie sich nicht über mich freuen! Beim Wanken meines Fußes tun sie groß wider mich.
17 Denn ich bin nahe daran zu hinken, und mein Schmerz ist beständig vor mir.
18 Denn ich tue kund meine Ungerechtigkeit; ich bin bekümmert wegen meiner Sünde.
19 Meine Feinde aber leben, sind stark, und viele sind derer, die ohne Grund mich hassen;
20 und Böses für Gutes vergeltend, feinden sie mich an, weil ich dem Guten nachjage.
21 Verlaß mich nicht, Jehova; mein Gott, sei nicht fern von mir!
22 Eile zu meiner Hilfe, Herr, meine Rettung!

Psalm 38:14-22 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.

The Elberfelder Bible is in the public domain.