Psalm 38

Do Not Forsake Me, O LORD
A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

1O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,
nor discipline me in your wrath!
2For your arrows have sunk into me,
and your hand has come down on me.

3There is no soundness in my flesh
because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones
because of my sin.
4For my iniquities have gone over my head;
like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

5My wounds stink and fester
because of my foolishness,
6I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
all the day I go about mourning.
7For my sides are filled with burning,
and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8I am feeble and crushed;
I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

9O Lord, all my longing is before you;
my sighing is not hidden from you.
10My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
and my nearest kin stand far off.

12Those who seek my life lay their snares;
those who seek my hurt speak of ruin
and meditate treachery all day long.

13But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
14I have become like a man who does not hear,
and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

15But for you, O LORD, do I wait;
it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,
who boast against me when my foot slips!”

17For I am ready to fall,
and my pain is ever before me.
18I confess my iniquity;
I am sorry for my sin.
19But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20Those who render me evil for good
accuse me because I follow after good.

21Do not forsake me, O LORD!
O my God, be not far from me!
22 Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my salvation!