"No healthy spot left"

Purpose: To plead with YHWH to answer David's enemies' accusations because he cannot answer them himself.

Content: My suffering has incapacitated me, my companions have abandoned me, and my enemies are accusing me. You alone, YHWH, can help!

Message: A sufferer cannot save themself; YHWH is the only one who can answer.

Author: David

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Overview Video

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Exegetical Issues Video

Overview

Translation

Click 'Expand' to the right to see our Close-but-Clear translation of Psalm 38.

1. A psalm.

By David.

To bring to remembrance.

2. YHWH, do not rebuke me when you’re angry,

or discipline me when you’re wrathful!

3. For your arrows have been shot into me,

and your hand has struck me.

4. There is no sound spot in my flesh because of your anger.

There is no well-being in my bones because of my sin.

5. For my iniquities have gone over my head.

Like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me to handle.

6. My wounds have become foul with rot

because of my folly.

7. I have become completely contorted.

I have walked about constantly mourning.

8. For my sides are full of inflammation,

and there is no sound spot in my flesh.

9. I have become weak and have been crushed completely.

I have been groaning because of the severe suffering of my heart.

10. My Lord, everything I long for is before you,

and my moaning is not hidden from you.

11. My heart has been pounding. My strength has abandoned me,

and the light of my eyes, even that is not with me!

12. Those who love me, my companions,

are standing far away from my injury,

and my relatives have stood at a distance.

13. And those who seek to take my life have set a trap,

and those who pursue my harm have been speaking of disaster,

and they are constantly muttering treachery.

14. But I, like a deaf person, cannot hear.

And [I am] like a mute person [who] cannot open his mouth.

15. And so I have become like a man who does not hear

and who has no arguments in his mouth.

16. But, YHWH, I have hoped for you.

You yourself must answer, my Lord, my God.

17. For I thought that they would rejoice concerning me,

[those who] have considered themselves superior to me when my feet slip.

18. For I am certain to stumble,

and my pain is always before me.

19. Although I confess my iniquity,

I am distressed because of my sin.

20. And those who are my enemies for no reason are mighty,

and those who hate me without cause are numerous.

21. And those who repay with evil in response to good

accuse me in response to my pursuit of good.

22. Do not abandon me, YHWH!

My God, do not be far from me!

23. Hurry to help me,

my Lord, my salvation!

The Close-but-clear translation (CBC) exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text according to how we understand its syntax and word-to-phrase-level semantics. It is not intended to be used as a stand-alone translation or base text, but as a supplement to Layer-by-Layer materials to help users make full use of these resources.

For links to other translations of Psalm 38, click here.

Verse-by-Verse

Click the link to view all of Psalm 38 Verse-by-Verse, or click on an individual verse below.

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Psalm Overview

Exegetical Issues

Guardian: Amanda Jarus