Psalm 38:4

4 Poiché le mie iniquità sorpassano il mio capo; son come un grave carico, troppo pesante per me.

Psalm 38:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 38:4

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head
Like an inundation of waters, as the waves and billows of the sea; for the waters to come up to the neck or chin shows great danger; but when they go over the head the case is desperate, and a person is sinking and drowning; compare with this ( Psalms 69:1 Psalms 69:2 ) ; the simile may denote both the number and weight of sins, and also signifies the overwhelming distress the psalmist was in, under a view of them;

as an heavy burden, they are too heavy for me;
the guilt of sin upon the conscience, without a view of pardon, lies heavy indeed, and makes a man a burden to himself, as it did Job, ( Job 7:20 Job 7:21 ) ; yea, sin is not only grieving and afflicting to pardoned ones, and who know they are pardoned, but it is a burden to them under which they groan; nor is it possible for any so to bear it as to satisfy and make atonement for it; none but Christ could ever do this, and he has done it; nor is there any relief for burdened souls, but by looking to a sin bearing and sin atoning Saviour, and by casting the burden upon him, who invites them to him for rest.

Psalm 38:4 In-Context

2 Poiché le tue saette si sono confitte in me, e la tua mano m’è calata addosso.

3 Non v’è nulla d’intatto nella mia carne a cagion della tua ira; non v’è requie per le mie ossa a cagion del mio peccato.

4 Poiché le mie iniquità sorpassano il mio capo; son come un grave carico, troppo pesante per me.

5 Le mie piaghe son fetide e purulenti per la mia follia.

6 Io son tutto curvo e abbattuto, vo attorno tuttodì vestito a bruno.