PSALM 38 [†] O LORD,  m rebuke me not in your anger,

nor discipline me in your wrath!

2 For your  n arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand  o has come down on me.

3 There is  p no soundness in my flesh

because of your indignation;

there is no health in my  q bones

because of my sin.

4[^] For my  r 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  s utterly bowed down and  t prostrate;

all the day I  u go about mourning.

7 For my sides are filled with burning,

and there is  p no soundness in my flesh.

8 I am feeble and crushed;

I  v groan because of the tumult of my heart.

9[†] O Lord, all my longing is before you;

my  w sighing is not hidden from you.

10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,

and  x the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.

11 My  y friends and companions  z stand aloof from my  a plague,

and my nearest kin  b stand far off.

12 Those who seek my life  c lay their snares;

those who seek my hurt  d speak of ruin

and meditate  e treachery all day long.

13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,

like  f 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  g rebukes.

15[†] But for  h you, O LORD, do I wait;

it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

16 For I said, “Only  i let them not rejoice over me,

who  j boast against me when my  k foot slips!”

17 For I am  l ready to fall,

and my pain is ever before me.

18 I  m confess my iniquity;

I am  n sorry for my sin.

19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,

and many are those who hate me  o wrongfully.

20 Those who  p render me evil for good

 q accuse me because I  r follow after good.

21 Do not forsake me, O LORD!

O my God, be not  s far from me!

22  t Make haste to help me,

O Lord, my  u salvation!

To the choirmaster: to  v Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.