Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 38
The xxxviii. PSALM.
David lying soar oppressed at once both under some bodily distemper and many enemies, humbly repairs to God in prayer: Wherein first he bewaileth his sin, and Gods displeasure, and then his sufferings both in bodie (which were very grievous) and also in mind. But yet comforts himself in this, that the groans and prayers which those miseries forced from him, were heard and regarded of God, though he had not present relief, but continued worse and worse: And still holds out praying and ripping up his whole estate to God, how it fared with him on the one side, and with his enemies on the other.
Psalm xxxviii. A Psalm of David to bring to remembrance.A Psalm made by David in soar affliction, both to mind God of his pitious state, to gain relief; and himself of sin, and the fruit thereof, to humble him under it.
1 O Lord,1O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. I confess my self a sinner, and to deserve thy punishment, but remember thou art good, and merciful, therefore let thy chastisements be fatherly; not in rigour, void of compassion and forgivenes.
2 Which me thinks thou art,2For thine arrows stick fast in me; and thine hand presseth me soar. for thou hast wounded me deep in body and mind, thy punishing hand is exceeding heavie upon me.
3 My diseased body is all over tormented with extream pain,3There is no soundness in my flesh, because of thine anger: neither is there any rest in my bones, because of my sin. which in thy displeasure thou hast cast me into. My sin hath brought me into a miserable condition, my very bones feel the smart of it.
4 For mine iniquities have overwhelmed me with a deluge of wrath,4For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. and like a thick cloud have intercepted thy favour from me: They and their sad effects lie so heavie upon me, that my spirit is almost overwhelmed by them, and my very life endangered.
5 My disease is very grievous,5My wounds stink and are corrupt: because of my foolishness. painful, and loathsome, for which I condemn my self and acquit thee, for I may thank mine own folly: my sin hath caused my suffering.
6 Yea,6I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly, I go mourning all the day long. it hath brought me into a heavie case; for my trouble is great by reason of it, the weight thereof presseth me soar. I have no ease but continual sorrow for it, and by it.
7 For I lie under a grievous maladie,7For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: & there is no soundness in my flesh. noisomly diseased, all my body over tormented so, that by reason thereof my loins fail me that should support me, and my strength every where else is decayed.
8I am feeble & sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.8 Through the length and nature of my distemper I am extreamly weakned in nature and constitution, my bones are as if they were broken. And my mind is as much out of order as my bodie, through the extream anguish of my sins guilt and Gods heavie displeasure, which hath forced upon out-cries from me.
9Lord, all my desire is before thee: and my groaning is not hid from thee.9 But yet this comforts me, that thou, O Lord, takest notice and art privie to my cries, which in faithfulness I put up unto thee, though thou doest not seem to do so, and my groans are known to thee, though hitherto they bring no relief from thee.
10My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.10 For yet its worse with me and no better, for still mine heart languisheth with sorrow, more and more, and my strength it decayes, and my sight through sorrowful mournings is grown dim, and mine eyes almost quite benighted.
11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore: and my kinsmen stand far off.11 I am very forlorn and destitute of help and comfort, for my disease is so dangerous and lothsome, that my very friends are forced from me, who in their hearts entirely love me, and would not forgo me, could they safely accompanie me, and possibly endure me; yea, all men, not onelyonly my friends and acquaintance, but my nearest kindred and allies are so too.
12They also that seek after my life, lay snares for me; & they that seek my hurt …peak mischievous things, and imagin deceits all the day long.12 And at once both thus my friends forsake me, and mine enemies endanger me, endeavouring mine utter destruction by all possible means, secret or open, any way by word or deed to do me mischief, which they terribly threaten, is their desire, and continual endeavour.
13But I, as a deaf man heard not; and I was as a dumb man that opened not his mouth.13 But I sustained my self in faith and patience, not rendring evil for evil, in the sense of mine unworthines, and faith of thy goodnes I was silent, commending my self and them respectively unto thee for merciemercy and justice.
14 I refrained both from impatience,14Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs. and revengeful retributions of any kind, committing my cause to thee, in meekness, and humilitie.
15 I gave place to wrath;15For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. for that in thee, O Lord, is my hope and confidence, that in thy good time thou wilt do me right on them that injure me, and will hear the crie of my wronged innocencie, and my prayer for deliverance, O Lord my God, in whose faithfulness I trust, and whose servant I am.
16 For to thee have I,16For I said, Hear me, least otherwise they should re…oyce over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnifie themselves against me. and do I make my prayer for support and deliverance, least if mine enemies should procure mine undoing; it would be thy dishonouring and the shame of my faith and profession. I know that would be the issue by those experiences I have had of their behaviour, for upon all advantages they have disparaged me, and my cause, and been raised in self-confidence above me and my hopes.
17 I crie unto thee for support and deliverance,17For I am readie to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. for God knows, of my self, without it, I am readie every foot to perish, and to be utterly depressed with the greatness of my calamitie, such and so uncessant is my grief, that I must needs else sinke under it.
18 Yea,18For I will declare mine iniquitie; I will be sorie for my sin. I have prayd unto thee for merciemercy, and that with promise and full purpose of heart to repent of my sin that caused my suffering; I have promised humbly to confess it, and heartily to lament it, and have done it accordingly.
19 This Lord hath been my manner,19But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me, wrongfully are multiplied. to confess my sin, pray thy pardon, submit to thy punishment, wait for thy merciemercy, and yet still I remain sick and weak, in miserie and distress, whilest my wicked and graceless enemies, are notwithstanding in health and strength, feel nothing of that I do… yea, I every way decrease and they increase, my friends grow less, and mine enemies more, the combination of such as mortally and injuriously hate me greatens exceedingly.
20They also that render evil for good, are mine aduersaries: because I follow the thing that good is.20 And such and so ill-natured men are my adversaries, that as I render not them evil for evil, so contrarily they render me evil for good, and hate me for no other cause, but because I am good, and do good.
21Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God be not far from me.21 Now, Lord, consider what I have said, and the arguments I have used both touching my self and mine enemies, and do accordingly. Let me, that am thus destitute of all help, but thine, and that walk close with thee, and depend firmly on thee, not be forsaken; but find thee faithful and gracious to uphold and deliver me.
22Make hast to help me, O Lord my salvation.22 Vouchsafe me thine helping hand before I perish, which I am in imminent danger to do, O Lord, that by thy promise and my faith art my onelyonly preserver and deliverer.