A MAN SUFFERING IN HELPLESS AGONY
Key verse: 15
NIV
Psalm 38[a]
A psalm of David. A petition.
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.(A)
2 Your arrows(B) have pierced me,
and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health(C) in my body;
there is no soundness in my bones(D) because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed(E) me
like a burden too heavy to bear.(F)
5 My wounds(G) fester and are loathsome(H)
because of my sinful folly.(I)
6 I am bowed down(J) and brought very low;
all day long I go about mourning.(K)
7 My back is filled with searing pain;(L)
there is no health(M) in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;(N)
I groan(O) in anguish of heart.(P)
9 All my longings(Q) lie open before you, Lord;
my sighing(R) is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds,(S) my strength fails(T) me;
even the light has gone from my eyes.(U)
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;(V)
my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,(W)
those who would harm me talk of my ruin;(X)
all day long they scheme and lie.(Y)
13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,(Z)
like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 Lord, I wait(AA) for you;
you will answer,(AB) Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat(AC)
or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”(AD)
17 For I am about to fall,(AE)
and my pain(AF) is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;(AG)
I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies(AH) without cause[b];
those who hate me(AI) without reason(AJ) are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil(AK)
lodge accusations(AL) against me,
though I seek only to do what is good.
Footnotes
- Psalm 38:1 In Hebrew texts 38:1-22 is numbered 38:2-23.
- Psalm 38:19 One Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript; Masoretic Text my vigorous enemies
Cross references
- Psalm 38:1 : Ps 6:1
- Psalm 38:2 : S Job 6:4
- Psalm 38:3 : Pr 3:8; 4:22
- Psalm 38:3 : S Job 33:19
- Psalm 38:4 : Ps 40:12; 65:3
- Psalm 38:4 : S Nu 11:14; S Ezr 9:6; Lk 11:46
- Psalm 38:5 : ver 11; Ps 147:3
- Psalm 38:5 : Job 19:17
- Psalm 38:5 : Ps 69:5; Pr 5:23; 12:23; 13:16; Ecc 10:3
- Psalm 38:6 : Ps 57:6; 145:14; 146:8
- Psalm 38:6 : S Ps 35:14
- Psalm 38:7 : S Job 14:22
- Psalm 38:7 : ver 3
- Psalm 38:8 : Ps 34:18; Pr 17:22
- Psalm 38:8 : S Ps 6:6; 22:1; Pr 5:11
- Psalm 38:8 : S Ps 6:3
- Psalm 38:9 : Ps 119:20; 143:7
- Psalm 38:9 : S Job 3:24
- Psalm 38:10 : S Job 37:1
- Psalm 38:10 : S Ps 31:10
- Psalm 38:10 : S Ps 6:7; S 19:8; 88:9
- Psalm 38:11 : S ver 5
- Psalm 38:12 : Ps 31:4; 140:5; 141:9
- Psalm 38:12 : Ps 35:4; 41:5
- Psalm 38:12 : S Ps 35:20
- Psalm 38:13 : Ps 115:6; 135:17; Isa 43:8; Mk 7:37
- Psalm 38:15 : Ps 27:14
- Psalm 38:15 : Ps 17:6
- Psalm 38:16 : S Ps 22:17
- Psalm 38:16 : S Dt 32:35
- Psalm 38:17 : S Ps 37:24
- Psalm 38:17 : ver 7; S Job 6:10
- Psalm 38:18 : S Lev 26:40
- Psalm 38:19 : S Ps 18:17
- Psalm 38:19 : S Ps 25:19
- Psalm 38:19 : S Ps 35:19
- Psalm 38:20 : S Ge 44:4; 1Jn 3:12
- Psalm 38:20 : Ps 54:5; 59:10; 119:23
- Psalm 38:21 : Ps 27:9; 71:18; 119:8
- Psalm 38:21 : S Ps 10:1; S 22:11; 35:22; 71:12
- Psalm 38:22 : S Ps 22:19
- Psalm 38:22 : Ps 40:13
- Psalm 38:22 : S 1Ch 16:35
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord
A Psalm of David, (A)for the memorial offering.38 O Lord, (B)rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your (C)arrows have sunk into me,
and your hand (D)has come down on me.
3 There is (E)no soundness in my flesh
because of your indignation;
there is no health in my (F)bones
because of my sin.
4 For my (G)iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and fester
because of my foolishness,
6 I am (H)utterly bowed down and (I)prostrate;
all the day I (J)go about mourning.
7 For my sides are filled with burning,
and there is (K)no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed;
I (L)groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;
my (M)sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
and (N)the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My (O)friends and companions (P)stand aloof from my (Q)plague,
and my nearest kin (R)stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life (S)lay their snares;
those who seek my hurt (T)speak of ruin
and meditate (U)treachery all day long.
13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
like (V)a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear,
and in whose mouth are no (W)rebukes.
15 But for (X)you, O Lord, do I wait;
it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only (Y)let them not rejoice over me,
who (Z)boast against me when my (AA)foot slips!”
17 For I am (AB)ready to fall,
and my pain is ever before me.
18 I (AC)confess my iniquity;
I am (AD)sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
and many are those who hate me (AE)wrongfully.
20 Those who (AF)render me evil for good
(AG)accuse me because I (AH)follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!
O my God, be not (AI)far from me!
22 (AJ)Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my (AK)salvation!
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Cross references
- Psalm 38:1 : Ps. 70, title; [1 Chr. 16:4]
- Psalm 38:1 : Ps. 6:1
- Psalm 38:2 : Job 6:4
- Psalm 38:2 : See Ps. 32:4
- Psalm 38:3 : Isa. 1:6
- Psalm 38:3 : See Ps. 31:10
- Psalm 38:4 : Ps. 40:12; Ezra 9:6
- Psalm 38:6 : Ps. 35:14; 42:5, 6, 11; 43:5
- Psalm 38:6 : Isa. 21:3
- Psalm 38:6 : [Job 30:28]
- Psalm 38:7 : [See ver. 3 above]; Isa. 1:6
- Psalm 38:8 : See Ps. 22:1
- Psalm 38:9 : Ps. 6:6
- Psalm 38:10 : See Ps. 6:7
- Psalm 38:11 : Ps. 88:18; See Job 19:13-20
- Psalm 38:11 : [Luke 10:31, 32]
- Psalm 38:11 : Ps. 39:10; Isa. 53:4, 8
- Psalm 38:11 : [Matt. 27:55; Mark 15:40; Luke 23:49]
- Psalm 38:12 : [Matt. 22:15]; Mark 12:13; Luke 20:20; See 2 Sam. 17:1-3
- Psalm 38:12 : [2 Sam. 16:7, 8]
- Psalm 38:12 : Ps. 35:20
- Psalm 38:13 : Ps. 39:2, 9; Isa. 53:7; 1 Pet. 2:23
- Psalm 38:14 : [Job 23:4]
- Psalm 38:15 : Ps. 39:7; [2 Sam. 16:12]
- Psalm 38:16 : [Ps. 13:4]
- Psalm 38:16 : See Job 19:5
- Psalm 38:16 : Ps. 94:18
- Psalm 38:17 : Ps. 35:15; Jer. 20:10
- Psalm 38:18 : See Ps. 32:5
- Psalm 38:18 : [2 Cor. 7:9, 10]
- Psalm 38:19 : Ps. 35:19
- Psalm 38:20 : See Ps. 35:12
- Psalm 38:20 : Ps. 109:4
- Psalm 38:20 : [3 John 11]
- Psalm 38:21 : See Ps. 10:1
- Psalm 38:22 : See Ps. 40:13
- Psalm 38:22 : See Ps. 27:1
38 O Lord, (B)rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath!
2 For your (C)arrows have sunk into me,
and your hand (D)has come down on me.
3 There is (E)no soundness in my flesh
because of your indignation;
there is no health in my (F)bones
because of my sin.
4 For my (G)iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5 My wounds stink and fester
because of my foolishness,
6 I am (H)utterly bowed down and (I)prostrate;
all the day I (J)go about mourning.
7 For my sides are filled with burning,
and there is (K)no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am feeble and crushed;
I (L)groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;
my (M)sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
and (N)the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My (O)friends and companions (P)stand aloof from my (Q)plague,
and my nearest kin (R)stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life (S)lay their snares;
those who seek my hurt (T)speak of ruin
and meditate (U)treachery all day long.
13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
like (V)a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14 I have become like a man who does not hear,
and in whose mouth are no (W)rebukes.
15 But for (X)you, O Lord, do I wait;
it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I said, “Only (Y)let them not rejoice over me,
who (Z)boast against me when my (AA)foot slips!”
17 For I am (AB)ready to fall,
and my pain is ever before me.
18 I (AC)confess my iniquity;
I am (AD)sorry for my sin.
19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
and many are those who hate me (AE)wrongfully.
20 Those who (AF)render me evil for good
(AG)accuse me because I (AH)follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!
O my God, be not (AI)far from me!
22 (AJ)Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my (AK)salvation!
Cross references
- Psalm 38:1 : Ps. 70, title; [1 Chr. 16:4]
- Psalm 38:1 : Ps. 6:1
- Psalm 38:2 : Job 6:4
- Psalm 38:2 : See Ps. 32:4
- Psalm 38:3 : Isa. 1:6
- Psalm 38:3 : See Ps. 31:10
- Psalm 38:4 : Ps. 40:12; Ezra 9:6
- Psalm 38:6 : Ps. 35:14; 42:5, 6, 11; 43:5
- Psalm 38:6 : Isa. 21:3
- Psalm 38:6 : [Job 30:28]
- Psalm 38:7 : [See ver. 3 above]; Isa. 1:6
- Psalm 38:8 : See Ps. 22:1
- Psalm 38:9 : Ps. 6:6
- Psalm 38:10 : See Ps. 6:7
- Psalm 38:11 : Ps. 88:18; See Job 19:13-20
- Psalm 38:11 : [Luke 10:31, 32]
- Psalm 38:11 : Ps. 39:10; Isa. 53:4, 8
- Psalm 38:11 : [Matt. 27:55; Mark 15:40; Luke 23:49]
- Psalm 38:12 : [Matt. 22:15]; Mark 12:13; Luke 20:20; See 2 Sam. 17:1-3
- Psalm 38:12 : [2 Sam. 16:7, 8]
- Psalm 38:12 : Ps. 35:20
- Psalm 38:13 : Ps. 39:2, 9; Isa. 53:7; 1 Pet. 2:23
- Psalm 38:14 : [Job 23:4]
- Psalm 38:15 : Ps. 39:7; [2 Sam. 16:12]
- Psalm 38:16 : [Ps. 13:4]
- Psalm 38:16 : See Job 19:5
- Psalm 38:16 : Ps. 94:18
- Psalm 38:17 : Ps. 35:15; Jer. 20:10
- Psalm 38:18 : See Ps. 32:5
- Psalm 38:18 : [2 Cor. 7:9, 10]
- Psalm 38:19 : Ps. 35:19
- Psalm 38:20 : See Ps. 35:12
- Psalm 38:20 : Ps. 109:4
- Psalm 38:20 : [3 John 11]
- Psalm 38:21 : See Ps. 10:1
- Psalm 38:22 : See Ps. 40:13
- Psalm 38:22 : See Ps. 27:1
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. A burden of guilt (1-14)
King David committed a sin. Sin separates us from God, and unrepented sin may make a sincere man sick. David was such a man. His guilt overwhelms him. He is physically sick because of his sin. He is not only separated from God, but he is alienated from his friends and neighbors because of his sin. His enemies gloat over his weakness and plot his downfall.
2. I wait for you, O Lord (15-22)
He cannot say or do anything; he can only wait on the Lord. He is confident that God will answer him. He confesses his sin, believing in God's forgiveness. When he sets his direction toward God and begins to pursue what is good, many enemies rise up to slander him. He prays that God may protect him from his enemies and come quickly to help him. God is not far from one who comes to him seeking mercy and help. He always answers such prayers.
Prayer: Lord, I come to you for mercy and help this morning. Do not be far from me.
One Word: The Lord alone forgives and heals