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.