Psalms 38

I confess my iniquity

O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage! ²Your arrows have struck deep, and your blows are crushing me. ³Because of your anger, my whole body is sick; my health is broken because of my sins.

⁴My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear.a ⁵My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins. ⁶I am bent over and racked with pain. All day long I walk around filled with grief.

⁷A raging fever burns within me, and my health is broken. ⁸I am exhausted and completely crushed. My groans come from an anguished heart. ⁹You know what I long for, Lord; you hear my every sigh.b

¹⁰My heart beats wildly, my strength fails, and I am going blind. ¹¹My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease. Even my own family stands at a distance.c ¹²Meanwhile, my enemies lay traps to kill me. Those who wish me harm make plans to ruin me. All day long they plan their treachery.d

¹³But I am deaf to all their threats. I am silent before them as one who cannot speak. ¹⁴I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply. ¹⁵For I am waiting for you, O Lord. You must answer for me, O Lord my God.

¹⁶I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me or rejoice at my downfall.” ¹⁷I am on the verge of collapse, facing constant pain. ¹⁸But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done.

¹⁹I have many aggressive enemies; they hate me without reason. ²⁰They repay me evil for good and oppose me for pursuing good.e ²¹Do not abandon me, O Lord. Do not stand at a distance, my God.

²²Come quickly to help me, O Lord my savior.f