A gray winter afternoon: a small stone hut alone at the far edge of a fallow field, a thin line of smoke, the village small and distant behind a stone wall, under plain low cloud.

Lament · David

Psalm 38

When you know it is your own fault and it still hurts: this is what you say to God.

22 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'Psalm 38
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressure
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom falls
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last Hallelujah

Do Not Rebuke Me in Your Anger

A Psalm of David, for remembrance.

O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger

or discipline me in Your wrath.

For Your arrows have pierced me deeply,

and Your hand has pressed down on me.

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Seen from behind on a long stony hill road, a man bent nearly double under a great bundle of sacks and a head-strap, gray dust around him and the empty road going up.

There is no soundness in my body

because of Your anger;

there is no rest in my bones

because of my sin.

For my iniquities have overwhelmed me;

they are a burden too heavy to bear.

My wounds are foul and festering

because of my sinful folly.

I am bent and brought low;

all day long I go about mourning.

For my loins are full of burning pain,

and no soundness remains in my body.

I am numb and badly crushed;

I groan in anguish of heart.

0:31

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

O Lord, my every desire is before You;

my groaning is not hidden from You.

My heart pounds, my strength fails,

and even the light of my eyes has faded.

Reflect

Run from Him, or to Him?

David knows this is his own doing, and he still says “O Lord, my every desire is before You.” When you have failed, do you run from God or to Him?

In a town gateway a lone man sits on the end of a stone bench, hands in his lap and looking at the ground, while a little knot of men talk and point behind him, out of focus.

But like a deaf man, I do not hear;

and like a mute man, I do not open my mouth.

I am like a man who cannot hear,

whose mouth offers no reply.

For I said, “Let them not gloat over me—

those who taunt me when my foot slips.”

For I am ready to fall,

and my pain is ever with me.

Yes, I confess my iniquity;

I am troubled by my sin.

Many are my enemies without cause,

and many hate me without reason.

Those who repay my good with evil

attack me for pursuing the good.

A lone small figure seen from far behind on a wide empty road across a bare plain, a wall of gray rain coming under a huge sky.

Do not forsake me, O LORD;

be not far from me, O my God.

Come quickly to help me,

O Lord my Savior.

Pray

His last lines, as your own

Name one sin to God, plainly, as David does. Then pray his last two lines as yours: “Do not forsake me, O LORD.” “Come quickly to help me.” Is there someone you need to go to as well?

You’ve experienced

Psalm 38

0 of 150 psalms read

A verse to carry with you

I wait for You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God.

Psalm 38:15

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