1 A Psalm by David, for a memorial. LORD, don’t rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure. 2 For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin. 4 For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds are loathsome and corrupt because of my foolishness. 6 I am in pain and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long. 7 For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you. 10 My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me. 11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away. 12 They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long. 13 But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth. 14 Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For I hope in you, LORD. You will answer, Lord my God. 16 For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.” 17 For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me. 18 For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin. 19 But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous. 20 They who give evil for good are also adversaries to me, because I follow what is good. 21 Don’t forsake me, LORD. My God, don’t be far from me. 22 Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.
Psalms · World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Psalm 38 World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (2)
- Greek and Latin Bibles number most Psalms one lower than Hebrew and English Bibles.
- "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org; the text is shown unaltered.
Cross references (22)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Isaiah 54:8; Hebrews 12:5–11; Psalm 6:1; Psalm 70:1; Jeremiah 30:11
- 2 Job 6:4; Psalm 32:4; 1 Samuel 5:6; Deuteronomy 2:15; Lamentations 3:12
- 3 Psalm 6:2; Psalm 51:8; Psalm 31:9–10; Isaiah 1:5–6; Lamentations 3:40–42
- 4 Psalm 40:12; Ezra 9:6; Matthew 11:28; Lamentations 1:14; 1 Peter 2:24
- 5 Isaiah 1:5–6; Psalm 69:5; Jeremiah 8:22; Psalm 32:3; Psalm 38:7
- 6 Job 30:28; Psalm 35:14; Psalm 42:9; Psalm 31:10; Psalm 42:5
- 7 Psalm 102:3; 2 Chronicles 21:18–19; Acts 12:23; Psalm 41:8; Job 30:18
- 8 Job 3:24; Psalm 32:3; Job 30:28; Isaiah 59:11; Psalm 22:1–2
- 9 Psalm 10:17; Psalm 6:6; 2 Corinthians 5:2; Romans 8:26–27; John 1:48
- 10 Psalm 6:7; Psalm 88:9; Psalm 69:3; Psalm 119:123; Lamentations 5:16–17
- 11 Psalm 31:11; Luke 23:49; Job 19:13–17; John 16:32; Psalm 88:18
- 12 Psalm 35:20; 2 Samuel 17:1–3; Psalm 140:5; Psalm 54:3; Psalm 141:9
- 13 Isaiah 53:7; Psalm 39:9; Psalm 39:2; 1 Peter 2:23; 2 Samuel 16:10–12
- 14 Amos 5:13; John 8:6; Mark 15:3–5; Micah 7:5
- 15 Psalm 39:7; Psalm 17:6; Psalm 138:3; Psalm 123:1–3
- 16 Psalm 94:18; Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalm 35:24–26; Psalm 13:3–4
- 17 Psalm 35:15; Psalm 6:6; Psalm 38:6; Micah 4:6–7; Psalm 77:2–3
- 18 Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Job 33:27; Psalm 51:3; 2 Corinthians 7:7–11
- 19 John 15:18–25; Psalm 35:19; Matthew 10:22; Psalm 69:4; Psalm 56:1–2
- 20 Psalm 35:12; Jeremiah 18:20; 1 John 3:12; John 10:32; 1 Peter 4:14–16
- 21 Psalm 22:19; Psalm 22:24; Psalm 22:11; Psalm 35:21–22; Psalm 22:1
- 22 Psalm 40:13; Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 12:2; Psalm 141:1; Psalm 71:12
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
With terror do they hear of the coming of the last day, who will not be secure by living well: and who fain would live ill, long.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)
The Psalmist says, And I became as a man that heareth not; and in whose mouth are no reproofs; and again, But I was as a deaf man and heard not; and as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)