A Penitent Sufferer's Plea for Healing

A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

1O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger,

or discipline me in your wrath.

2For your arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand has come down on me.

3There is no soundness in my flesh

because of your indignation;

there is no health in my bones

because of my sin.

4For my iniquities have gone over my head;

they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.

5My wounds grow foul and fester

because of my foolishness;

6I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;

all day long I go around mourning.

7For my loins are filled with burning,

and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8I am utterly spent and crushed;

I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

9O Lord, all my longing is known to you;

my sighing is not hidden from you.

10My heart throbs, my strength fails me;

as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.

11My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction,

and my neighbours stand far off.

12Those who seek my life lay their snares;

those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin,

and meditate treachery all day long.

13But I am like the deaf, I do not hear;

like the mute, who cannot speak.

14Truly, I am like one who does not hear,

and in whose mouth is no retort.

15But it is for you, O LORD, that I wait;

it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

16For I pray, ‘Only do not let them rejoice over me,

those who boast against me when my foot slips.’

17For I am ready to fall,

and my pain is ever with me.

18I confess my iniquity;

I am sorry for my sin.

19Those who are my foes without cause38.19 Q Ms: MT my living foes are mighty,

and many are those who hate me wrongfully.

20Those who render me evil for good

are my adversaries because I follow after good.

21Do not forsake me, O LORD;

O my God, do not be far from me;

22make haste to help me,

O Lord, my salvation.