Don't Rebuke Me in Your Wrath

22 versesPenitential and LamentThe heading attributes it to David and calls it a psalm for a memorial

Psalm 38 summary: what it means

Psalm 38 is a prayer from someone who is ill, in pain, and convinced his suffering is linked to his own sin. He describes his body in hard detail: no soundness in his flesh, wounds that are loathsome, burning, faintness and failing sight. Friends and family keep their distance, and enemies set snares and speak against him, while he stays silent like a man who cannot hear.

The psalm does not end in rescue. It ends in hope and confession: the writer says he hopes in the LORD, will declare his iniquity and is sorry for his sin. The last two verses are short, urgent requests: do not forsake me, do not be far from me, hurry to help me.

Listen to Psalm 38 (audio)

2:22 · AI voice · All psalms audio

Psalm 38: Don't Rebuke Me in Your Wrath

World English Bible, public domain. allpsalms.com/psalm-38

Psalm 38 commentary: explained verse by verse

LORD, don’t rebuke me in your wrath,neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.

The psalm opens by asking not to be rebuked in God's wrath or chastened in his hot displeasure. The writer does not say he deserves no correction. He asks that it not come in anger.

Also read Isaiah 27:8, Psalm 6:1, Deuteronomy 9:19, Jeremiah 30:11

For your arrows have pierced me,your hand presses hard on me.

God's arrows have pierced him and God's hand presses hard on him. The writer sees his suffering as coming from God, not as something that just happened. The rest of the psalm keeps that frame.

Also read Psalm 32:4, 1 Samuel 5:11, Lamentations 3:12, Ruth 1:13

There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation,neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

Also read Job 33:19-22, Psalm 102:3, Psalm 31:9-10, Psalm 102:5

For my iniquities have gone over my head.As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

His iniquities have gone over his head, and they are a burden too heavy for him. Both pictures, being overwhelmed and a crushing load, describe guilt as something he cannot manage alone.

Also read Psalm 40:12, Lamentations 1:14, Ezra 9:6, Matthew 11:28

My wounds are loathsome and corruptbecause of my foolishness.

Also read Jeremiah 8:22, Psalm 32:3, Isaiah 1:5-6, Psalm 38:7

I am in pain and bowed down greatly.I go mourning all day long.

Also read Psalm 42:5, Isaiah 38:14, Psalm 35:14, Psalm 57:6

For my waist is filled with burning.There is no soundness in my flesh.

His waist is filled with burning and there is no soundness in his flesh, a phrase first used in verse 3. The repetition keeps the body in view. This is a physical complaint, not only a spiritual one.

Also read Psalm 102:3, Psalm 41:8, 2 Chronicles 21:18-19, Job 7:5

I am faint and severely bruised.I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.

He is faint and severely bruised, and he groans because of the anguish of his heart. The verse joins bodily weakness and inner distress in one line. The groaning is picked up again in verse 9.

Also read Isaiah 59:11, Psalm 32:3, Job 3:24, Psalm 22:1-2

Lord, all my desire is before you.My groaning is not hidden from you.

Everything the writer desires is already before the Lord, and his groaning is not hidden from him. It is a turn toward God in the middle of the complaint. Before he asks for help, he trusts that God sees.

Also read 2 Corinthians 5:2, Romans 8:22-23, Psalm 102:20, Psalm 102:5

My heart throbs.My strength fails me.As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.

Also read Psalm 69:3, Lamentations 5:16-17, Psalm 143:4-7, Psalm 119:123

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague.My kinsmen stand far away.

Those closest to him, his lovers, his friends and his kinsmen, stand far away from his plague. The illness has cut him off. Part of the pain the psalm describes is being avoided.

Also read Job 19:13-17, Psalm 88:18, Isaiah 53:8, Luke 23:49

They also who seek after my life lay snares.Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things,and meditate deceits all day long.

Also read 2 Samuel 16:7-8, Psalm 10:9, Psalm 54:3, Psalm 62:3-4

But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear.I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth.

Also read 1 Peter 2:23, 2 Samuel 16:10-12, Psalm 39:2, Psalm 39:9

Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear,in whose mouth are no reproofs.

Repeating verse 13, the writer says he is like a man who does not hear, with no reply in his mouth. He does not answer those who plot against him. The silence leads straight into verse 15, which explains it.

Also read Mark 15:3-5, John 8:6, Amos 5:13, Micah 7:5

For I hope in you, LORD.You will answer, Lord my God.

This is why he stays silent: he hopes in the LORD and trusts that God will answer. He leaves the reply to God rather than defending himself. It is the first clear note of hope in the psalm.

Also read Psalm 39:7, Psalm 17:6, Psalm 123:1-3, Psalm 138:3

For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me,or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”

Also read Deuteronomy 32:35, Psalm 35:24-26, Psalm 94:18, Psalm 13:3-4

For I am ready to fall.My pain is continually before me.

Also read Micah 4:6-7, Psalm 77:2-3, Psalm 35:15, Isaiah 53:3-5

For I will declare my iniquity.I will be sorry for my sin.

The writer says he will declare his iniquity and be sorry for his sin. No excuse is offered. It is the plainest confession in the psalm, and it comes alongside hope rather than instead of it.

Also read 2 Corinthians 7:7-11, Psalm 51:3, Job 33:27, Psalm 32:5

But my enemies are vigorous and many.Those who hate me without reason are numerous.

Also read John 15:18-25, Psalm 25:19, Psalm 59:1-3, Psalm 35:19

They who give evil for good are also adversaries to me,because I follow what is good.

Also read 1 Samuel 23:5, Psalm 35:12, Psalm 7:4, Psalm 109:3-5

Don’t forsake me, LORD.My God, don’t be far from me.

The writer asks the LORD not to forsake him and not to be far from him. Verse 11 described friends who stand far away. Here he asks that God not do the same.

Also read Psalm 22:1, Psalm 22:24, Psalm 35:21-22, Psalm 22:11

Hurry to help me,Lord, my salvation.

The psalm ends with a short, urgent request: hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation. No rescue has been described yet. The last word is a plea, with God named as salvation.

Also read Psalm 70:5, Psalm 62:6, Psalm 27:1, Isaiah 12:2

A prayer from Psalm 38

LORD, do not rebuke me in your wrath. My iniquities have gone over my head, like a burden too heavy for me, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am bowed down and I go mourning all day long. Lord, all my desire is before you, and my groaning is not hidden from you. My friends stand far off, and others lay snares for me. I will not answer them. I hope in you, LORD, and you will answer. I declare my iniquity and I am sorry for my sin. Do not forsake me. My God, do not be far from me. Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation. Amen.

Psalm 38 Bible study questions

In verses 3 to 8, which parts of the body does the speaker describe as suffering?
In verse 11, how do the speaker's friends and relatives respond to his trouble?
In verses 13 and 14 the speaker stays silent like a deaf and mute man; when might silence be a fitting answer to accusation?
In verse 18 the speaker says he will declare his iniquity; what do you think makes that kind of honesty hard?
Psalm 6:1 opens with almost the same request as Psalm 38:1; what else do the two psalms share?

Questions about Psalm 38

What is Psalm 38 about?

It is a prayer from someone suffering illness and isolation, who links his pain to his own sin. He confesses, says he hopes in the LORD, and asks God to come quickly to help.

Who wrote Psalm 38?

The heading attributes it to David and calls it a psalm for a memorial.

What does Psalm 38:4 mean?

It says the writer's iniquities have gone over his head and are a burden too heavy for him. Guilt is pictured both as something over his head and as a crushing weight.

What does Psalm 38:9 mean?

The writer tells the Lord that all his desire is before him and his groaning is not hidden from him. He trusts that God already sees what he is going through.

What does Psalm 38:14-15 mean?

The writer does not answer his accusers, like a man who cannot hear. Verse 15 explains why: he hopes in the LORD and trusts God to answer.

What does Psalm 38:18 say?

I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin. It is the psalm's plainest confession.

Psalm 38 KJV: the King James Version

O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.1

For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.2

There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.3

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.4

My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.5

I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.6

For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.7

I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.8

Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.9

My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.10

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.11

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.12

But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.13

Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.14

For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.15

For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.16

For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.17

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.18

But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.19

They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.20

Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.21

Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.22

Psalm 38 in Hebrew

The Hebrew text from the Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible, which counts a psalm's heading as verse 1, so they can run one ahead of English Bibles.

Show the text

1 מִזְמ֖וֹר לְדָוִ֣ד לְהַזְכִּֽיר׃

2 יְֽהוָ֗ה אַל־בְּקֶצְפְּךָ֥ תוֹכִיחֵ֑נִי וּֽבַחֲמָתְךָ֥ תְיַסְּרֵֽנִי׃

3 כִּֽי־חִ֭צֶּיךָ נִ֣חֲתוּ בִ֑י וַתִּנְחַ֖ת עָלַ֣י יָדֶֽךָ׃

4 אֵין־מְתֹ֣ם בִּ֭בְשָׂרִי מִפְּנֵ֣י זַעְמֶ֑ךָ אֵין־שָׁל֥וֹם בַּ֝עֲצָמַ֗י מִפְּנֵ֥י חַטָּאתִֽי׃

5 כִּ֣י עֲ֭וֺנֹתַי עָבְר֣וּ רֹאשִׁ֑י כְּמַשָּׂ֥א כָ֝בֵ֗ד יִכְבְּד֥וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

6 הִבְאִ֣ישׁוּ נָ֭מַקּוּ חַבּוּרֹתָ֑י מִ֝פְּנֵ֗י אִוַּלְתִּֽי׃

7 נַעֲוֵ֣יתִי שַׁחֹ֣תִי עַד־מְאֹ֑ד כָּל־הַ֝יּ֗וֹם קֹדֵ֥ר הִלָּֽכְתִּי׃

8 כִּֽי־כְ֭סָלַי מָלְא֣וּ נִקְלֶ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין מְ֝תֹ֗ם בִּבְשָׂרִֽי׃

9 נְפוּג֣וֹתִי וְנִדְכֵּ֣יתִי עַד־מְאֹ֑ד שָׁ֝אַ֗גְתִּי מִֽנַּהֲמַ֥ת לִבִּֽי׃

10 אֲֽדֹנָי נֶגְדְּךָ֥ כָל־תַּאֲוָתִ֑י וְ֝אַנְחָתִ֗י מִמְּךָ֥ לֹא־נִסְתָּֽרָה׃

11 לִבִּ֣י סְ֭חַרְחַר עֲזָבַ֣נִי כֹחִ֑י וְֽאוֹר־עֵינַ֥י גַּם־הֵ֝֗ם אֵ֣ין אִתִּֽי׃

12 אֹֽהֲבַ֨י ׀ וְרֵעַ֗י מִנֶּ֣גֶד נִגְעִ֣י יַעֲמֹ֑דוּ וּ֝קְרוֹבַ֗י מֵרָחֹ֥ק עָמָֽדוּ׃

13 וַיְנַקְשׁ֤וּ ׀ מְבַקְשֵׁ֬י נַפְשִׁ֗י וְדֹרְשֵׁ֣י רָ֭עָתִי דִּבְּר֣וּ הַוּ֑וֹת וּ֝מִרְמ֗וֹת כָּל־הַיּ֥וֹם יֶהְגּֽוּ׃

14 וַאֲנִ֣י כְ֭חֵרֵשׁ לֹ֣א אֶשְׁמָ֑ע וּ֝כְאִלֵּ֗ם לֹ֣א יִפְתַּח־פִּֽיו׃

15 וָאֱהִ֗י כְּ֭אִישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־שֹׁמֵ֑עַ וְאֵ֥ין בְּ֝פִ֗יו תּוֹכָחֽוֹת׃

16 כִּֽי־לְךָ֣ יְהוָ֣ה הוֹחָ֑לְתִּי אַתָּ֥ה תַ֝עֲנֶ֗ה אֲדֹנָ֥י אֱלֹהָֽי׃

17 כִּֽי־אָ֭מַרְתִּי פֶּן־יִשְׂמְחוּ־לִ֑י בְּמ֥וֹט רַ֝גְלִ֗י עָלַ֥י הִגְדִּֽילוּ׃

18 כִּֽי־אֲ֭נִי לְצֶ֣לַע נָכ֑וֹן וּמַכְאוֹבִ֖י נֶגְדִּ֣י תָמִֽיד׃

19 כִּֽי־עֲוֺנִ֥י אַגִּ֑יד אֶ֝דְאַ֗ג מֵֽחַטָּאתִֽי׃

20 וְֽ֭אֹיְבַי חַיִּ֣ים עָצֵ֑מוּ וְרַבּ֖וּ שֹׂנְאַ֣י שָֽׁקֶר׃

21 וּמְשַׁלְּמֵ֣י רָ֭עָה תַּ֣חַת טוֹבָ֑ה יִ֝שְׂטְנ֗וּנִי תַּ֣חַת רדופי ־טֽוֹב׃

22 אַל־תַּֽעַזְבֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֑ה אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י אַל־תִּרְחַ֥ק מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

23 ח֥וּשָׁה לְעֶזְרָתִ֑י אֲ֝דֹנָ֗י תְּשׁוּעָתִֽי׃

Psalm 38 in the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible

The Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain. It follows the Greek and Latin numbering, so this psalm is Psalm 37 there.

Show the text

1 A psalm for David, for a remembrance of the sabbath.

2 Rebuke me not, O Lord, in thy indignation; nor chastise me in thy wrath.

3 For thy arrows are fastened in me: and thy hand hath been strong upon me.

4 There is no health in my flesh, because of thy wrath: there is no peace for my bones, because of my sins.

5 For my iniquities are gone over my head: and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon me.

6 My sores are putrified and corrupted, because of my foolishness.

7 I am become miserable, and am bowed down even to the end: I walked sorrowful all the day long.

8 For my loins are filled with illusions; and there is no health in my flesh.

9 I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: I roared with the groaning of my heart.

10 Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hidden from thee.

11 My heart is troubled, my strength hath left me, and the light of my eyes itself is not with me.

12 My friends and my neighbours have drawn near, and stood against me. And they that were near me stood afar off:

13 And they that sought my soul used violence. And they that sought evils to me spoke vain things, and studied deceits all the day long.

14 But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and as a dumb man not opening his mouth.

15 And I became as a man that heareth not: and that hath no reproofs in his mouth.

16 For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped: thou wilt hear me, O Lord my God.

17 For I said: Lest at any time my enemies rejoice over me: and whilst my feet are moved, they speak great things against me.

18 For I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is continually before me.

19 For I will declare my inequity: and I will think for my sin.

20 But my enemies live, and are stronger that I: and they hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

21 They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I followed goodness.

22 Forsake me not, O Lord my God: do not thou depart from me.

23 Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation.

Psalm 38 in Latin

The Clementine Vulgate, public domain, where this psalm is Psalm 37.

Show the text

1 Psalmus David, in rememorationem de sabbato.

2 Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me, neque in ira tua corripias me:

3 quoniam sagittæ tuæ infixæ sunt mihi, et confirmasti super me manum tuam.

4 Non est sanitas in carne mea, a facie iræ tuæ; non est pax ossibus meis, a facie peccatorum meorum:

5 quoniam iniquitates meæ supergressæ sunt caput meum, et sicut onus grave gravatæ sunt super me.

6 Putruerunt et corruptæ sunt cicatrices meæ, a facie insipientiæ meæ.

7 Miser factus sum et curvatus sum usque in finem; tota die contristatus ingrediebar.

8 Quoniam lumbi mei impleti sunt illusionibus, et non est sanitas in carne mea.

9 Afflictus sum, et humiliatus sum nimis; rugiebam a gemitu cordis mei.

10 Domine, ante te omne desiderium meum, et gemitus meus a te non est absconditus.

11 Cor meum conturbatum est; dereliquit me virtus mea, et lumen oculorum meorum, et ipsum non est mecum.

12 Amici mei et proximi mei adversum me appropinquaverunt, et steterunt; et qui juxta me erant, de longe steterunt: et vim faciebant qui quærebant animam meam.

13 Et qui inquirebant mala mihi, locuti sunt vanitates, et dolos tota die meditabantur.

14 Ego autem, tamquam surdus, non audiebam; et sicut mutus non aperiens os suum.

15 Et factus sum sicut homo non audiens, et non habens in ore suo redargutiones.

16 Quoniam in te, Domine, speravi; tu exaudies me, Domine Deus meus.

17 Quia dixi: Nequando supergaudeant mihi inimici mei; et dum commoventur pedes mei, super me magna locuti sunt.

18 Quoniam ego in flagella paratus sum, et dolor meus in conspectu meo semper.

19 Quoniam iniquitatem meam annuntiabo, et cogitabo pro peccato meo.

20 Inimici autem mei vivunt, et confirmati sunt super me: et multiplicati sunt qui oderunt me inique.

21 Qui retribuunt mala pro bonis detrahebant mihi, quoniam sequebar bonitatem.

22 Ne derelinquas me, Domine Deus meus; ne discesseris a me.

23 Intende in adjutorium meum, Domine Deus salutis meæ.

Printable Psalm 38: free, large print and PDF

Print Psalm 38 for free: the whole psalm or only the verses you tick. Choose regular, large or extra large print, and a plain page, a framed sheet to hang on the wall or a verse card, in the World English Bible or the King James Version. To keep a PDF, choose Save as PDF in the print window. Nothing to sign up for.

Psalm 38 at a glance

Verses	22
Heading in the text	A Psalm by David, for a memorial.
Attributed to	The heading attributes it to David and calls it a psalm for a memorial.
Type	Penitential and Lament
Number in Greek and Latin Bibles	Psalm 37

Read Psalm 38 when you are facing

sickness chronic pain repentance loneliness

Psalm 38 in other translations

This page prints the World English Bible and the King James Version because both are public domain. The NIV, ESV, NKJV, NLT and NASB are under copyright, so they cannot be printed in full here. You can read Psalm 38 in those translations at Bible Gateway.

Where Psalm 38 belongs

The seven penitential psalms Psalms of David Book 1 of the Psalms

How this page was made

The psalm text comes from public domain translations and is not edited. The summary, the verse notes and the answers are written for this page from the text of the psalm itself. Where a claim goes beyond the text, it is sourced below.

Sources

Text: World English Bible and King James Version, both public domain, from ebible.org source
Penitential psalms: Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143 are grouped as the seven penitential psalms source
Hebrew text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, public domain, from ebible.org source
Douay-Rheims: Douay-Rheims Bible, 1899 edition, public domain, from ebible.org source
Latin text: Clementine Vulgate, public domain, from ebible.org source
Numbering: Greek and Latin psalm numbering, Wikipedia, Psalms source

Written by

Lucas Pradella

Last checked 25 September 2026 · How pages are checked

I built AllPsalms because I could not find one site that covered all 150 psalms properly. I am a Christian and a reader of the psalms, not a scholar or a minister. What I can do is the work: put every psalm in one place, in plain English, with the text unedited and every claim sourced.

More about this site

Psalm 37 All 150 Psalm 39