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Psalm 38

This article is about Psalm 38 in Hebrew (Masoretic) numbering. For Psalm 38 in Greek Septuagint or Latin Vulgate numbering, see Psalm 39.
Psalm 38
A psalm of David to bring to remembrance
"O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath"
Psalm 38 (Vulgate: 37) from the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry manuscript
Other name
  • Psalm 37
  • Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me
Textby David
LanguageHebrew (original)

Psalm 38 is the 38th psalm of the Book of Psalms, entitled "A psalm of David to bring to remembrance",[1] is one of the 7 Penitential Psalms.[2] In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint version of the Bible, and in the Latin Vulgate, this psalm is Psalm 37.

In the English King James Version of the Bible, it begins: "O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath". In Latin, it is known as "Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me".[3]

The title "to bring to remembrance" also applies to Psalm 70.[2]

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text[4][5] of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse Hebrew English translation (JPS 1917)
1 מִזְמ֖וֹר לְדָוִ֣ד לְהַזְכִּֽיר׃‎ A Psalm of David, to make memorial.
2 יְֽהֹוָ֗ה אַל־בְּקֶצְפְּךָ֥ תוֹכִיחֵ֑נִי וּֽבַחֲמָתְךָ֥ תְיַסְּרֵֽנִי׃‎ O LORD, rebuke me not in Thine anger; neither chasten me in Thy wrath.
3 כִּֽי־חִ֭צֶּיךָ נִ֣חֲתוּ בִ֑י וַתִּנְחַ֖ת עָלַ֣י יָדֶֽךָ׃‎ For Thine arrows are gone deep into me, and Thy hand is come down upon me.
4 אֵין־מְתֹ֣ם בִּ֭בְשָׂרִי מִפְּנֵ֣י זַעְמֶ֑ךָ אֵין־שָׁל֥וֹם בַּ֝עֲצָמַ֗י מִפְּנֵ֥י חַטָּאתִֽי׃‎ There is no soundness in my flesh because of Thine indignation; neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.
5 כִּ֣י עֲ֭וֺנֹתַי עָֽבְר֣וּ רֹאשִׁ֑י כְּמַשָּׂ֥א כָ֝בֵ֗ד יִכְבְּד֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃‎ For mine iniquities are gone over my head; as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
6 הִבְאִ֣ישׁוּ נָ֭מַקּוּ חַבּוּרֹתָ֑י מִ֝פְּנֵ֗י אִוַּלְתִּֽי׃‎ My wounds are noisome, they fester, because of my foolishness.
7 נַעֲוֵ֣יתִי שַׁחֹ֣תִי עַד־מְאֹ֑ד כׇּל־הַ֝יּ֗וֹם קֹדֵ֥ר הִלָּֽכְתִּי׃‎ I am bent and bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day.
8 כִּֽי־כְ֭סָלַי מָלְא֣וּ נִקְלֶ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין מְ֝תֹ֗ם בִּבְשָׂרִֽי׃‎ For my loins are filled with burning; and there is no soundness in my flesh.
9 נְפוּג֣וֹתִי וְנִדְכֵּ֣יתִי עַד־מְאֹ֑ד שָׁ֝אַ֗גְתִּי מִֽנַּהֲמַ֥ת לִבִּֽי׃‎ I am benumbed and sore crushed; I groan by reason of the moaning of my heart.
10 אֲֽדֹנָ֗י נֶגְדְּךָ֥ כׇל־תַּאֲוָתִ֑י וְ֝אַנְחָתִ֗י מִמְּךָ֥ לֹֽא־נִסְתָּֽרָה׃‎ Lord, all my desire is before Thee; and my sighing is not hid from Thee.
11 לִבִּ֣י סְ֭חַרְחַר עֲזָבַ֣נִי כֹחִ֑י וְֽאוֹר־עֵינַ֥י גַּם־הֵ֝֗ם אֵ֣ין אִתִּֽי׃‎ My heart fluttereth, my strength faileth me; as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
12 אֹֽהֲבַ֨י ׀ וְרֵעַ֗י מִנֶּ֣גֶד נִגְעִ֣י יַעֲמֹ֑דוּ וּ֝קְרוֹבַ֗י מֵרָחֹ֥ק עָמָֽדוּ׃‎ My friends and my companions stand aloof from my plague; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
13 וַיְנַקְשׁ֤וּ ׀ מְבַקְשֵׁ֬י נַפְשִׁ֗י וְדֹרְשֵׁ֣י רָ֭עָתִי דִּבְּר֣וּ הַוּ֑וֹת וּ֝מִרְמ֗וֹת כׇּל־הַיּ֥וֹם יֶהְגּֽוּ׃‎ They also that seek after my life lay snares for me; and they that seek my hurt speak crafty devices, and utter deceits all the day.
14 וַאֲנִ֣י כְ֭חֵרֵשׁ לֹ֣א אֶשְׁמָ֑ע וּ֝כְאִלֵּ֗ם לֹ֣א יִפְתַּח־פִּֽיו׃‎ But I am as a deaf man, I hear not; and I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
15 וָאֱהִ֗י כְּ֭אִישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־שֹׁמֵ֑עַ וְאֵ֥ין בְּ֝פִ֗יו תּוֹכָחֽוֹת׃‎ Yea, I am become as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no arguments.
16 כִּֽי־לְךָ֣ יְהֹוָ֣ה הוֹחָ֑לְתִּי אַתָּ֥ה תַ֝עֲנֶ֗ה אֲדֹנָ֥י אֱלֹהָֽי׃‎ For in Thee, O LORD, do I hope; Thou wilt answer, O Lord my God.
17 כִּֽי־אָ֭מַרְתִּי פֶּן־יִשְׂמְחוּ־לִ֑י בְּמ֥וֹט רַ֝גְלִ֗י עָלַ֥י הִגְדִּֽילוּ׃‎ For I said: 'Lest they rejoice over me; when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.'
18 כִּֽי־אֲ֭נִי לְצֶ֣לַע נָכ֑וֹן וּמַכְאוֹבִ֖י נֶגְדִּ֣י תָמִֽיד׃‎ For I am ready to halt, and my pain is continually before me.
19 כִּֽי־עֲוֺנִ֥י אַגִּ֑יד אֶ֝דְאַ֗ג מֵ֖חַטָּאתִֽי׃‎ For I do declare mine iniquity; I am full of care because of my sin.
20 וְֽ֭אֹיְבַי חַיִּ֣ים עָצֵ֑מוּ וְרַבּ֖וּ שֹׂנְאַ֣י שָֽׁקֶר׃‎ But mine enemies are strong in health; and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
21 וּמְשַׁלְּמֵ֣י רָ֭עָה תַּ֣חַת טוֹבָ֑ה יִ֝שְׂטְנ֗וּנִי תַּ֣חַת (רדופי) [רׇֽדְפִי־]טֽוֹב׃‎ They also that repay evil for good are adversaries unto me, because I follow the thing that is good.
22 אַל־תַּעַזְבֵ֥נִי יְהֹוָ֑ה אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י אַל־תִּרְחַ֥ק מִמֶּֽנִּי׃‎ Forsake me not, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me.
23 ח֥וּשָׁה לְעֶזְרָתִ֑י אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י תְּשׁוּעָתִֽי׃‎ Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.

King James Version

  1. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
  2. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
  3. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
  4. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
  5. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
  6. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
  7. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
  8. I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
  9. Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
  10. My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
  11. My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
  12. They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
  13. But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
  14. Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
  15. For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
  16. For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
  17. For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
  18. For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
  19. But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
  20. They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
  21. Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
  22. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Content

The psalm's topic is God's displeasure at sin (verses 1–11), and the psalmist's sufferings and prayers (verses 12–22).[6][7] The psalm opens with a prayer, David felt as if he had been forgotten of his God. It then passes intermittently between complaint and hope.[8] Benjamin Weiss noted the "depth of misery into which the psalmist gradually plunges in his complaints, then the sudden grasp at the arm of mercy and omnipotence".[9]

Possibly written late in David's life,[10] although Coffman's believes it was early in David's reign,[11] it was often conjectured as a biography of sorts for David.[12] John Calvin thought rather it was David's intent to commit to music to transmit what he had learnt through his life of the relationship he had with his Lord, before he died.[13]

Uses

Judaism

Verse 22 is part of the long Tachanun recited on Mondays and Thursdays.[14][15]

New Testament

Verse 11 is quoted in Luke 23:49.[16]

Catholic Church

Psalm motet Domine ne in furore, a setting of Psalm 37 (Vulgate numbering, a.k.a. Psalm 38 in Hebrew numbering) by Josquin des Prez.

From around AD 530, this Psalm was traditionally sung in monasteries during matins on Mondays, according to the Rule of St. Benedict.[17][18][19] Since reform of the Office of Readings after Vatican II, Psalm 37 is now recited during the liturgy of the hours on Friday in the second week of the four-weekly cycle of liturgical prayers.[citation needed]

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the morning of the eighth day of the month,[20] as well as at Mattins on Ash Wednesday.[21]

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Verse 1 (which is almost identical to verse 1 of Psalm 6) is quoted in chapter 6 of 1 Meqabyan, a book considered canonical by this church.[22]

Musical settings

Musical settings of Psalm 38 include:

References

  1. ^ Matthew Henry, Commentaries on Psalm 38
  2. ^ a b Kirkpatrick, A. (1906), Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges on Psalm 38, accessed 3 November 2021
  3. ^ Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 37 (38) Archived 2017-05-07 at the Wayback Machine medievalist.net
  4. ^ "Psalms – Chapter 38". Mechon Mamre.
  5. ^ "Psalms 38 - JPS 1917". Sefaria.org.
  6. ^ Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
  7. ^ John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes.
  8. ^ Charles H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David.
  9. ^ Benjamin Weiss
  10. ^ Christopher Love
  11. ^ Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible.
  12. ^ Charles H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David.
  13. ^ Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. 9: Psalms, Part II, tr. by John King, [1847–50].]
  14. ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 129
  15. ^ D’après le Complete Artscroll Siddur, compilation des prières juives.
  16. ^ Kirkpatrick, A. F. (1901). The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges. Vol. Book IV and V: Psalms XC-CL. Cambridge: At the University Press. p. 838. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  17. ^ Règle de saint Benoît, traduction par Prosper Guéranger, p. 46, Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes, réimpression
  18. ^ "La distribution des Psaumes dans la Règle de Saint Benoît | Mont des Cats".
  19. ^ Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique, 1938p. 149.
  20. ^ Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762, pp. 196ff
  21. ^ "The Book of Common Prayer: Proper Psalms On Certain Days" (PDF). The Church of England. p. 6. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Torah of Yeshuah: Book of Meqabyan I - III".
  23. ^ Three Psalms by Josquin Desprez: 1935 edition at the International Music Score Library Project
  24. ^ Gottfried Vopelius (1682). Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch, pp. 648–651.
  25. ^ Cornelius Becker (1602). Der Psalter Dauids Gesangweis, "Der XXXVIII. Psalm"
  26. ^ Zahn, Johannes (1890). Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder (in German). Vol. III. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann. pp. 131–132, 558–559.
  27. ^ Scores of Herr straf mich nicht in Deinem Zorn, SWV 135, by Heinrich Schütz in the Choral Public Domain Library (ChoralWiki)
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