THE BOOK OF PSALMS

 

Psalms 38-39

A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.

1 ¶ O LORD, do not rebuke me in your wrath: or chasten me in your hot displeasure.

2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand presses down on me grievously.

3 Because of your anger there is no soundness in my flesh; nor is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

4 For my iniquities have overwhelmed me: and the burden of them is too heavy for me to bear.

5 My wounds stink and are festering because of my foolishness.

6 I am troubled, and greatly bowed down; I go about mourning all day long.

7 For my loins are filled with burning pain: and there is no soundness in my body.

8 I am faint and badly crushed: I groan because my heart is moaning.

9 Lord, all of my longing is known to you; and my groaning is not hidden from you.

10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me: and the light of my eyes is gone.

11 My loved ones and friends keep their distance because of my affliction; and my relatives stay away.

12 ¶ Those who seek to kill me lay snares for me: and those who seek my harm talk of my ruin, and all day long think of ways to deceive.

13 But like a deaf man, I do not hear; and like a man who cannot speak, I do not say anything.

14 Thus I am like a man who does not hear, and has no words of reproof in his mouth.

15 But I look to you, O LORD, for help: you will hear, O Lord my God.

16 For I have prayed, Do not let those who arrogantly gloat when I stumble rejoice over me.

17 For I am ready to collapse, and my sorrow is continually with me.

18 For I willingly acknowledge my iniquity; and am sorry for my sin.

19 But my enemies are vigorous, and they are strong: and many hate me for no reason.

20 Those who pay back evil for good are my adversaries; because I follow the thing that is good.

21 Do not forsake me, O LORD: O my God, do not be far from me.

22 Come quickly to help me, O Lord my salvation.

 

Psalm 39

For the chief Musician, for Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.

1 ¶ I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I do not sin with my tongue: I will guard my mouth as with a bridle, while the wicked are before me.

2 I kept completely silent, I did not say anything, even to speak good; and my sorrow increased.

3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then I spoke with my tongue,

4 LORD, cause me to know my end, and how many days I have left; so that I will know how fleeting my life is.

5 Behold, you have made my days as short as a handbreadth; and my life is as nothing in your sight: truly every man at his best is merely a breath. Selah.

6 Surely every man walks about like a mere shadow: surely they are troubled over nothing: each one heaps up riches, and does not know who will get them.

7 ¶ And so, Lord, what is there for me to look forward to? you are my hope.

8 Deliver me from all my sins: do not make me the taunt of fools.

9 I said nothing, I did not open my mouth; for it is you who have done it.

10 Remove your punishment from me: I am consumed by the blow of your hand.

11 When you correct and chasten a man because of sin, like a moth your rebuke consumes his beauty and everything precious to him: surely every man is just a vapor. Selah.

12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; do not remain silent at my tears: for I am a passing guest with you, and a pilgrim, as all my fathers were.

13 O spare me, that I may recover joy and strength, before I die, and am gone.