1 A Psalm of David; to bring to remembrance.
2 O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger, nor chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
3 For thine arrows have entered into me, and thy hand hath come down upon me.
4 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; there is no peace in my bones because of my sin,
5 For mine iniquities have passed over my head; as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
6 My wounds have stunk; they have consumed away because of my folly.
7 I have been bowed down, I have been brought low to the utmost, all the day have I walked mourning.
8 For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
9 I have been feeble and broken to the uttermost; I have groaned because of the groaning of my heart.
10 O Lord, before thee [is] all my desire, and my sighing hath not been hidden from thee.
11 My heart hath panted; my strength hath forsaken me, and the light of mine eyes—even they are not with me.
12 My lovers and my neighbors stand aloof from my calamity, and my kinsmen have stood afar off.
13 And those who seek after my soul have laid snares, and those who seek my hurt have spoken mischievous things, and all the day do they meditate deceits.
14 And I as a deaf [man] hear not, and as a dumb [man] he openeth not his mouth.
15 And I am as a man who heareth not and in whose mouth there are no reproofs.
16 Because for thee, O Jehovah, have I waited; thou wilt answer, O Lord my God.
17 For I said, Lest they rejoice over me! at the moving of my foot they magnified themselves against me.
18 For I am prepared for halting, and my pain [is] continually before me.
19 For I will declare mine iniquity, I am afflicted because of my sin.
20 But mine enemies have been strong in life, and those who hate me without cause are multiplied.
21 And those who recompense me evil for good will oppose me because of my pursuing good.
22 Forsake me not, O Jehovah; O my God, be not far from me.
23 Make haste to my help, O Lord my salvation.
Notes on Psalm 38
“A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.” Though there is no right ground for applying this psalm to Christ as ancients and moderns have done, yet His Spirit breathes unequivocally through it as through all. Indeed, without questioning the peculiar comfort it will prove to the godly Jew when awakened in the latter day to feel its value, it is most suitable to the Christian suffering under the chastening hand of the Lord for folly and sin. Then is the time to cherish confidence in Him, as the Christian may do even more deeply and dropping all thought of enemies save of a spiritual kind. We can cry even then, Abba, Father.