1 [[A Psalm H4210 of David, H1732 to bring to remembrance.]] H2142 O LORD, H3068 rebuke H3198 me not in thy wrath: H7110 neither chasten H3256 me in thy hot displeasure. H2534
2 For thine arrows H2671 stick fast H5181 in me, and thy hand H3027 presseth me sore. H5181
3 There is no soundness H4974 in my flesh H1320 because H6440 of thine anger; H2195 neither is there any rest H7965 in my bones H6106 because H6440 of my sin. H2403
4 For mine iniquities H5771 are gone over H5674 mine head: H7218 as an heavy H3515 burden H4853 they are too heavy H3513 for me.
5 My wounds H2250 stink H887 and are corrupt H4743 because H6440 of my foolishness. H200
6 I am troubled; H5753 I am bowed down H7817 greatly; H3966 I go H1980 mourning H6937 all the day H3117 long.
7 For my loins H3689 are filled H4390 with a loathsome H7033 disease: and there is no soundness H4974 in my flesh. H1320
8 I am feeble H6313 and sore H3966 broken: H1794 I have roared H7580 by reason of the disquietness H5100 of my heart. H3820
9 Lord, H136 all my desire H8378 is before thee; and my groaning H585 is not hid H5641 from thee.
10 My heart H3820 panteth, H5503 my strength H3581 faileth H5800 me: as for the light H216 of mine eyes, H5869 it H1992 also is gone H369 from me.
11 My lovers H157 and my friends H7453 stand H5975 aloof from H5048 my sore; H5061 and my kinsmen H7138 stand H5975 afar off. H7350
12 They also that seek H1245 after my life H5315 lay snares H5367 for me: and they that seek H1875 my hurt H7451 speak H1696 mischievous things, H1942 and imagine H1897 deceits H4820 all the day H3117 long.
13 But I, as a deaf H2795 man, heard H8085 not; and I was as a dumb man H483 that openeth H6605 not his mouth. H6310
14 Thus I was as a man H376 that heareth H8085 not, and in whose mouth H6310 are no reproofs. H8433
15 For in thee, O LORD, H3068 do I hope: H3176 thou wilt hear, H6030 O Lord H136 my God. H430
16 For I said, H559 Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice H8055 over me: when my foot H7272 slippeth, H4131 they magnify H1431 themselves against me.
17 For I am ready H3559 to halt, H6761 and my sorrow H4341 is continually H8548 before me.
18 For I will declare H5046 mine iniquity; H5771 I will be sorry H1672 for my sin. H2403
19 But mine enemies H341 are lively, H2416 and they are strong: H6105 and they that hate H8130 me wrongfully H8267 are multiplied. H7231
20 They also that render H7999 evil H7451 for good H2896 are mine adversaries; H7853 because I follow H7291 the thing that good H2896 is.
21 Forsake H5800 me not, O LORD: H3068 O my God, H430 be not far H7368 from me.
22 Make haste H2363 to help H5833 me, O Lord H136 my salvation. H8668
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 38
Commentary on Psalms 38 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 38
Ps 38:1-22. To bring to remembrance, or, remind God of His mercy and himself of his sin. Appealing to God for relief from His heavy chastisement, the Psalmist avows his integrity before men, complains of the defection of friends and persecution of enemies, and in a submissive spirit, casting himself on God, with penitent confession he pleads God's covenant relation and his innocence of the charges of his enemies, and prays for divine comfort and help.
1-4. He deprecates deserved punishment, which is described (Ps 6:1), under the figure of bodily disease [Ps 38:3].
2. arrows … and thy hand—the sharp and heavy afflictions he suffered (De 32:23).
4. iniquities—afflictions in punishment of sin (2Sa 16:12; Ps 31:10; 40:12).
gone over mine head—as a flood.
5-8. The loathsomeness, corruption, and wasting torture of severe physical disease set forth his mental anguish [Ps 38:6]. It is possible some bodily disease was connected. The
loins are the seat of strength. His exhaustion left him only the power to groan [Ps 38:9].
9. That God can hear (Ro 8:26).
10. My heart panteth—as if barely surviving.
light … from me—utter exhaustion (Ps 6:7; 13:3).
11, 12. Friends desert, but foes increase in malignity.
12. seek after my life—(1Sa 20:1; 22:23).
13, 14. He patiently submits, uttering no reproaches or replies (Joh 19:9) to their insulting speeches;
15-17. for he is confident the
Lord—literally, "Sovereign" (to whom he was a servant), would answer his prayer (Ps 3:4; 4:1), and not permit their triumph in his partial halting, of which he was in danger.
18. Consciousness of sin makes suffering pungent, and suffering, rightly received, leads to confession.
19, 20. Still, while humbled before God, he is the victim of deadly enemies, full of malice and treachery.
enemies are lively—literally, "of life," who would take my life, that is, deadly.
21, 22. (Compare Ps 22:19; 35:3). All terms of frequent use. In this Psalm the language is generally susceptible of application to Christ as a sufferer, David, as such, typifying Him. This does not require us to apply the confessions of sin, but only the pains or penalties which He bore for us.