Psalms 38

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Unto the end. For Jeduthun himself. A Canticle of David.	1 A psalm of David. For remembrance.
2 I said, “I will keep to my ways, so that I will not offend with my tongue.” I posted a guard at my mouth, when a sinner took up a position against me.	2 LORD, punish me no more in your anger; in your wrath do not chastise me!
3 I was silenced and humbled, and I was quiet before good things, and my sorrow was renewed.	3 Your arrows have sunk deep in me; your hand has come down upon me.
4 My heart grew hot within me, and, during my meditation, a fire would flare up.	4 My flesh is afflicted because of your anger; my frame aches because of my sin.
5 I spoke with my tongue, “O Lord, make me know my end, and what the number of my days will be, so that I may know what is lacking to me.”	5 My iniquities overwhelm me, a burden beyond my strength.
6 Behold, you have made my days measurable, and, before you, my substance is as nothing. Yet truly, all things are vanity: every living man.	6 Foul and festering are my sores because of my folly.
7 So then, truly man passes by like an image; even so, he is disquieted in vain. He stores up, and he knows not for whom he will gather these things.	7 I am stooped and deeply bowed; all day I go about mourning.
8 And now, what is it that awaits me? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with you.	8 My loins burn with fever; my flesh is afflicted.
9 Rescue me from all my iniquities. You have handed me over as reproach to the foolish.	9 I am numb and utterly crushed; I wail with anguish of heart.
10 I was silenced, and I did not open my mouth, because it was you who acted.	10 My Lord, my deepest yearning is before you; my groaning is not hidden from you.
11 Remove your scourges from me.	11 My heart shudders, my strength forsakes me; the very light of my eyes has failed.
12 I fall short at corrections from the strength of your hand. For you have chastised man for iniquity. And you have made his soul shrink away like a spider. Nevertheless, it is in vain that any man be disquieted.	12 Friends and companions shun my pain; my neighbors stand far off.
13 O Lord, heed my prayer and my supplication. Pay attention to my tears. Do not be silent. For I am a newcomer with you, and a sojourner, just as all my fathers were.	13 Those who seek my life lay snares for me; they seek my misfortune, they speak of ruin; they plot treachery all the day.
14 Forgive me, so that I may be refreshed, before I will go forth and be no more.	14 But I am like the deaf, hearing nothing, like the dumb, saying nothing,
	15 Like someone who does not hear, who has no answer ready.
	16 LORD, I wait for you; O Lord, my God, answer me.
	17 For I fear they will gloat, exult over me if I stumble.
	18 I am very near to falling; my pain is with me always.
	19 I acknowledge my guilt and grieve over my sin.
	20 But many are my foes without cause, a multitude of enemies without reason,
	21 Repaying me evil for good, harassing me for pursuing good.
	22 Forsake me not, O LORD; my God, be not far from me!
	23 Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my salvation!