Psalm 38

1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath, neither chasten me in thine anger.

2 For thy weapons are fixed in me, and thou hast pressed thy hand heavily upon me.

3 For there is no health in my flesh because of thine anger; there is no peace to my bones because of my sins.

4 For my transgressions have gone over mine head: they have pressed heavily upon me like a weighty burden.

5 My bruises have become noisome and corrupt, because of my foolishness.

6 I have been wretched and bowed down continually: I went with a mourning countenance all the day.

7 For my soul is filled with mockings; and there is no health in my flesh.

8 I have been afflicted and brought down exceedingly: I have roared for the groaning of my heart.

9 But all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hidden from thee.

10 My heart is troubled, my strength has failed me; and the light of mine eyes is not with me.

11 My friends and my neighbours drew near before me, and stood still; and my nearest of kin stood afar off.

12 While they pressed hard upon me that sought my soul: and they that sought my hurt spoke vanities, and devised deceits all the day.

13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and was as a dumb man not opening his mouth.

14 And I was as a man that hears not, and who has no reproofs in his mouth.

15 For I hoped in thee, O Lord: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

16 For I said, Lest mine enemies rejoice against me: for when my feet were moved, they spoke boastingly against me.

17 For I am ready for plagues, and my grief is continually before me.

18 For I will declare mine iniquity, and be distressed for my sin.

19 But mine enemies live, and are mightier than I: and they that hate me unjustly are multiplied.

20 They that reward evil for good slandered me; because I followed righteousness.

21 Forsake me not, O Lord my God: depart not from me.

22 Draw nigh to my help, O Lord of my salvation.

Psalm 38 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.