Psalms 38 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

A psalm of David. For remembrance. Yahweh, don't correct me while you're burning with anger. Don't discipline me in the heat of your fury.

Because your arrows have already pierced deep into me, and your hand is pressing down hard.

There's no health left in my body because of your fury. There's no strength left in my bones because of my failure.

My failures have risen over my head. They're like a crushing weight — too heavy for me to carry.

My wounds are infected and rotting because of my own foolishness.

I'm bent over double, completely broken down. All day long I walk around consumed by grief.

My insides are burning with fever. There's no health left in my body.

I'm numb and completely crushed. I groan from the anguish tearing through my heart.

Master, you already know every longing I have. My sighing is no secret to you.

My heart is pounding. My strength has left me. Even the light in my eyes — it's fading.

The people who love me and my closest friends keep their distance from my suffering. Even my own family stays far away.

People who want me dead set their traps. Those who want to destroy me talk about it all day, plotting betrayal from morning to night.

But I'm like someone who can't hear — I don't respond. Like someone who can't speak — I don't open my mouth.

I've become like someone who doesn't hear, who has no argument to make in his own defense.

Because it's you I'm waiting for, Yahweh. You will answer, Master — my God.

Because I said, "Don't let them gloat over me. Don't let them use my stumbling as an excuse to feel superior."

Because I'm on the edge of collapse, and my pain is always right in front of me.

So I'll lay it all out — every way I've failed. I'm torn apart by what I've done wrong.

Meanwhile my enemies are alive and thriving. The people who hate me for no reason keep multiplying.

People who repay my good with evil attack me for trying to do what's right.

Don't abandon me, Yahweh. My God, don't be far from me.

Hurry to help me, Master — the one who rescues me.