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Psalms Chapter 38 (BBE)

minutes - words.
Psalm 38 - O LORD, Rebuke Me Not in Thy Wrath
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1 <A Psalm. Of David. To keep in memory.> O Lord, be not bitter with me in your wrath; let not your hand be on me in the heat of your passion.

2 For your arrows have gone into my flesh, and I am crushed under the weight of your hand.

3 My flesh is wasted because of your wrath; and there is no peace in my bones because of my sin.

4 For my crimes have gone over my head; they are like a great weight which is more than my strength.

5 My wounds are poisoned and evil-smelling, because of my foolish behaviour.

6 I am troubled, I am made low; I go weeping all the day.

7 For my body is full of burning; all my flesh is unhealthy.

8 I am feeble and crushed down; I gave a cry like a lion because of the grief in my heart.

9 Lord, all my desire is before you; my sorrow is not kept secret from you.

10 My heart goes out in pain, my strength is wasting away; as for the light of my eyes, it is gone from me.

11 My lovers and my friends keep away from my disease; my relations keep far away.

12 Those who have a desire to take my life put nets for me; those who are designing my destruction say evil things against me, all the day their minds are full of deceit.

13 But I kept my ears shut like a man without hearing; like a man without a voice, never opening his mouth.

14 So I was like a man whose ears are shut, and in whose mouth there are no sharp words.

15 In you, O Lord, is my hope: you will give me an answer, O Lord, my God.

16 I said, Let them not be glad over me; when my foot is moved, let them not be lifted up with pride against me.

17 My feet are near to falling, and my sorrow is ever before me.

18 I will make clear my wrongdoing, with sorrow in my heart for my sin.

19 But they are strong who have hate for me without cause: those who are against me falsely are increased in numbers.

20 They give me back evil for good; they are my haters because I go after the thing which is right.

21 Do not give me up, O Lord; O my God, be near to me.

22 Come quickly to give me help, O Lord, my salvation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Psalm 38 describe?
Psalm 38 is a penitential prayer describing physical suffering linked to sin -- 'There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger' (v.3) -- alongside abandonment by friends (v.11) and enemies plotting harm (v.12), ending in a plea for help (v.22).
What physical suffering does the psalmist describe?
He describes wounds that 'stink and are corrupt' (v.5), a heart that 'panteth' with failing strength, and fading eyesight (v.10), all tied to his sense of guilt.
How does the psalm end?
It closes with an urgent plea: 'Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation' (vv.21-22), a cry similar to the one in Psalms 40:12.

Today's Verse

For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 31:29 | ASV

Verse Of The Day

Even as lovers and friends stand aloof and enemies multiply, David resolves to declare his iniquity and be sorry for his sin, closing with "forsake me not, O LORD." His weakened strength is echoed in Psalms 40:12; move from Psalms 37 to Psalms 39.