Psalm - The Old Testament

¹ [Psalm Of David In commemoration] Yahweh, do not correct me in anger, do not discipline me in wrath.

² For your arrows have pierced deep into me, your hand has pressed down upon me.

³ Your indignation has left no part of me unscathed, my sin has left no health in my bones.

⁴ My sins stand higher than my head, they weigh on me as an unbearable weight.

⁵ I have stinking, festering wounds, thanks to my folly.

⁶ I am twisted and bent double, I spend my days in gloom.

⁷ My loins burn with fever, no part of me is unscathed.

⁸ Numbed and utterly crushed I groan in distress of heart.

⁹ Lord, all my longing is known to you, my sighing no secret from you,

¹⁰ my heart is throbbing, my strength has failed, the light has gone out of my eyes.

¹¹ Friends and companions shun my disease, even the dearest of them keep their distance.

¹² Those with designs on my life lay snares, those who wish me ill speak of violence and hatch treachery all day long.

¹³ But I hear nothing, as though I were deaf, as though dumb, saying not a word.

¹⁴ I am like the one who, hearing nothing, has no sharp answer to make.

¹⁵ For in you, Yahweh, I put my hope, you, Lord my God, will give answer.

¹⁶ I said, 'Never let them gloat over me, do not let them take advantage of me if my foot slips.'

¹⁷ There is no escape for me from falling, no relief from my misery.

¹⁸ But I make no secret of my guilt, I am anxious at the thought of my sin.

¹⁹ There is no numbering those who oppose me without cause, no counting those who hate me unprovoked,

²⁰ repaying me evil for good, slandering me for trying to do them good.

²¹ Yahweh, do not desert me, my God, do not stand aloof from me.

²² Come quickly to my help, Lord, my Saviour!