Psalm 38

1A psalm of David. Lehazkir.a

2O LORD, do not punish me in wrath;do not chastise me in fury.

3For Your arrows have struck me;Your blows have fallen upon me.

4There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your rage,no wholeness in my bones because of my sin.

5For my iniquities have boverwhelmed me;they are like a heavy burden, more than I can bear.

6My wounds stink and festerbecause of my folly.

7I am all bent and bowed;I walk about in gloom all day long.

8For my sinews are full of fever;there is no soundness in my flesh.

9I am all benumbed and crushed;I roar because of the turmoil in my mind.

10O Lord, You are aware of all my entreaties;my groaning is not hidden from You.

11My mind reels;my strength fails me;my eyes too have lost their luster.

12My friends and companions stand back from my affliction;my kinsmen stand far off.

13Those who seek my life lay traps;those who wish me harm speak malice;they utter deceit all the time.

14But I am like a deaf man, unhearing,like a dumb man who cannot speak up;

15I am like one who does not hear,who has no retort on his lips.

16But I wait for You, O LORD;You will answer, O Lord, my God.

17For I fear they will rejoice over me;when my foot gives way they will vaunt themselves against me.

18For I am on the verge of collapse;my pain is always with me.

19I acknowledge my iniquity;I am fearful over my sin;

20for my mortal enemies are numerous;my treacherous foes are many.

21Those who repay evil for goodharass me for pursuing good.

22Do not abandon me, O LORD;my God, be not far from me;

23hasten to my aid,O Lord, my deliverance.