Psalms — Chapter 38

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1O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

3There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

4For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

6I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

7For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

10My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

12They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

13But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

14Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

16For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

17For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.

18For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

19But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

20They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.

21Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.

22Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

1O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thy wrath; Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2For thine arrows stick fast in me, And thy hand presseth me sore.

3There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine indignation; Neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

4For mine iniquities are gone over my head: As a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

5My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, Because of my foolishness.

6I am pained and bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

7For my loins are filled with burning; And there is no soundness in my flesh.

8I am faint and sore bruised: I have groaned by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

9Lord, all my desire is before thee; And my groaning is not hid from thee.

10My heart throbbeth, my strength faileth me: As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague; And my kinsmen stand afar off.

12They also that seek after my life lay snares [for me]; And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, And meditate deceits all the day long.

13But I, as a deaf man, hear not; And I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

14Yea, I am as a man that heareth not, And in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15For in thee, O Jehovah, do I hope: Thou wilt answer, O Lord my God.

16For I said, Lest they rejoice over me: When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

17For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me.

18For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

19But mine enemies are lively, [and] are strong; And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

20They also that render evil for good Are adversaries unto me, because I follow the thing that is good.

21Forsake me not, O Jehovah: O my God, be not far from me.

22Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation. Psalm 39 For the Chief Musician, Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.

1A psalm of David, written to get God’s attention. O Lord, do not continue to rebuke me in your anger. Do not continue to punish me in your raging fury.

2For your arrows pierce me, and your hand presses me down.

3My whole body is sick because of your judgment; I am deprived of health because of my sin.

4For my sins overwhelm me; like a heavy load, they are too much for me to bear.

5My wounds are infected and starting to smell, because of my foolish sins.

6I am dazed and completely humiliated; all day long I walk around mourning.

7For I am overcome with shame, and my whole body is sick.

8I am numb with pain and severely battered; I groan loudly because of the anxiety I feel.

9O Lord, you understand my heart’s desire; my groaning is not hidden from you.

10My heart beats quickly; my strength leaves me. I can hardly see.

11Because of my condition, even my friends and acquaintances keep their distance; my neighbors stand far away.

12Those who seek my life try to entrap me; those who want to harm me speak destructive words. All day long they say deceitful things.

13But I am like a deaf man—I hear nothing; I am like a mute who cannot speak.

14I am like a man who cannot hear and is incapable of arguing his defense.

15Yet I wait for you, O Lord! You will respond, O Lord, my God!

16I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me; when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me.

17For I am about to stumble, and I am in constant pain.

18Yes, I confess my wrongdoing, and I am concerned about my sins.

19But those who are my enemies for no reason are numerous; those who hate me without cause outnumber me.

20They repay me evil for the good I have done; though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me.

21Do not abandon me, O Lord. My God, do not remain far away from me.

22Hurry and help me, O Lord, my deliverer.

1Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.

2For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me.

3There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

4For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

5My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, because of my foolishness.

6I am pained and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long.

7For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh.

8I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.

9Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you.

10My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.

11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away.

12They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long.

13But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth.

14Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15For in you, Yahweh, do I hope. You will answer, Lord my God.

16For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”

17For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me.

18For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin.

19But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous.

20They who also render evil for good are adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.

21Don’t forsake me, Yahweh. My God, don’t be far from me.

22Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

A penitential lament — David groans under God's discipline for sin, his body afflicted, friends distant, enemies pressing; yet he waits for the LORD and confesses his iniquity, pleading 'forsake me not.'

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Penitential Lament (3rd of 7 Penitential Psalms: 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) Attributed Author: David ("A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance") Key Themes: Suffering under divine discipline, graphic physical description of illness, sin acknowledged as the cause, friends and kinsmen withdrawing, patient waiting on God in silence
Historical Context: The superscription "to bring to remembrance" (lehazkir) is shared only with Psalm 70. This likely indicates the psalm was associated with the "memorial offering" (azkarah) — a portion of the grain offering burned on the altar to bring the worshiper before God's attention (Leviticus 2:2). The psalm is thus a liturgical cry: "Remember me, O God, in my suffering."
Psalm 38 is the most physically graphic of the penitential psalms. David describes his suffering in visceral detail: arrows piercing his flesh, festering wounds, burning loins, failing eyesight, pounding heart. Whether this describes literal illness or metaphorically portrays the effects of sin and divine discipline, the raw honesty is striking. David does not sanitize his pain for public consumption.
Unlike some lament psalms where the psalmist protests innocence, David here fully acknowledges his sin as the source of his suffering (vv.3-5,18). Yet the psalm is not merely self-pitying confession — it combines three sources of pain: divine discipline (vv.1-8), social abandonment (vv.11-12), and enemy aggression (vv.12,19-20). The convergence of all three creates a portrait of total isolation, relieved only by the final desperate appeal to God (vv.21-22). The psalm's theology insists that even discipline is not abandonment — God is still addressed as "LORD" and "my salvation."
Structure:
  • Plea for Mercy Under Divine Wrath (vv. 1-2)
  • Physical Suffering Described (vv. 3-8)
  • God Knows All: Transparent Before God (vv. 9-10)
  • Abandonment by Friends and Kinsmen (v. 11)
  • Enemies Taking Advantage (v. 12)
  • David's Silent Endurance (vv. 13-14)
  • Hope in God Alone (vv. 15-16)
  • Confession and Closing Plea (vv. 17-22)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Videos

The Bible Project — Psalms Overview

Reflection

  • 1. David's honesty about the physical effects of sin and guilt (vv.3-8) validates the mind-body-spirit connection. Unresolved guilt, unconfessed sin, and divine discipline can manifest in physical symptoms — sleeplessness, chronic pain, exhaustion. Is your body telling you something your spirit has not yet addressed?
  • 2. The withdrawal of friends during suffering (v.11) is one of life's most painful realities. When you most need support, people often distance themselves. Have you experienced this? And conversely — have you been the friend who "stood afar off" from someone in their dark season?
  • 3. David's choice to remain silent before his enemies (vv.13-14) rather than defend himself is a profound act of trust. When falsely accused or misrepresented, the instinct is to fight back. But David's silence says: "God will vindicate me; I don't need to vindicate myself." Is there a situation where God is calling you to silent trust rather than self-defense?
  • 4. "For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin" (v.18) — David does not blame his enemies, his circumstances, or God. He owns his sin without excuse. True repentance begins with ownership. Are you still making excuses for patterns God has clearly convicted you about?
  • 5. The psalm ends with desperate urgency: "Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation" (v.22). Sometimes prayer is not eloquent — it is simply "Help me, quickly!" God does not require polished prayers. He responds to desperate, honest cries. When words fail, is "Help!" enough?