Psalm 38 – A Confession and Prayer for Deliverance

A Psalm of David. A lament.

38 Reprove me not, Lord, in your anger,

and chasten me not in your wrath;

2 for your arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand lies heavy upon me.

3 In my flesh is no soundness

because of your anger,

no health in my bones,

because of my sin.

4 For that my guilt

is gone over my head:

it weighs like a burden

too heavy for me.

5 My wounds stink and fester,

for my foolishness I am tormented.

6 Bent and bowed am I utterly,

all the day going in mourning.

7 My loins are filled with burning,

and in my flesh is no soundness.

8 I am utterly crushed and numb;

I cry louder than lion roars.

9 Lord, you know all that I long for,

my groans are not hidden from you.

10 My heart is throbbing,

my strength has failed me.

The light of my eyes –

even it is gone from me.

11 My dear ones and friends keep aloof,

and my neighbours stand afar off.

12 They who aim at my life lay their snares,

they who seek my hurt speak of ruin,

nursing treachery all the day long.

13 But I turn a deaf ear and hear not;

like the dumb I open not my mouth.

14 I am like one without hearing,

with no arguments in my mouth.

15 For my hope, O Lord, is in you.

You will answer, O Lord my God,

16 when I utter the hope that those

who made scorn of my tottering feet

may not rejoice over me.

17 For I am ready to fall,

my pain forsakes me never.

18 I acknowledge my guilt,

I am anxious because of my sin:

19 My wanton assailants are strong,

those who wrongfully hate me are many,

20 who render me evil for good,

and oppose me, because I make good my goal.

21 Do not forsake me, O Lord;

my God, be not far from me.

22 Hasten to help me,

O Lord my saviour.