Psalm 38
Psalm 38 | |
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A psalm of David to bring to remembrance "O lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath" | |
![]() Psalm 38 (Vulgate: 37) from theTrès Riches Heures du Duc de Berrymanuscript | |
Other name |
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Text | byDavid |
Language | Hebrew (original) |
Psalm 38is the 38th psalm of theBook of Psalms,entitled "A psalm of David to bring to remembrance",[1]is one of the 7Penitential Psalms.[2]In the slightly different numbering system used in the GreekSeptuagintversion of the Bible, and in the LatinVulgate,this psalm isPsalm 37.
In the EnglishKing James Versionof 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 toPsalm 70.[2]
Text
[edit]Hebrew
[edit]The following table shows the Hebrew text[4][5]of the Psalm with vowels alongside an English translation based upon theJPS 1917translation (now in thepublic 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
[edit]- O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
- For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
- There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.
- For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
- My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
- I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
- For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.
- I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.
- Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
- My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
- My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
- 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.
- But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
- Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
- For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
- For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
- For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
- For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
- But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
- They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
- Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
- Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.
Content
[edit]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 inDavid'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 Calvinthought rather it was David's intent to commit tomusicto transmit what he had learnt through his life of the relationship he had with his Lord, before he died.[13]
Uses
[edit]Judaism
[edit]Verse 22 is part of the longTachanunrecited on Mondays and Thursdays.[14][15]
Verse 11 is quoted inLuke23:49.[16]
Catholic Church
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Josquin_Domine_ne_in_furore.pdf/page1-260px-Josquin_Domine_ne_in_furore.pdf.jpg)
From aroundAD530, thisPsalmwas traditionally sung in monasteries duringmatinson Mondays, according to theRule of St. Benedict.[17][18][19]Since reform of theOffice of ReadingsafterVatican 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
[edit]In theChurch of England'sBook 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 onAsh Wednesday.[21]
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
[edit]Verse 1 (which is almost identical to verse 1 ofPsalm 6) is quoted in chapter 6 of1 Meqabyan,a book consideredcanonicalby this church.[22]
Musical settings
[edit]Musical settings of Psalm 38 include:
- Domine ne in furore(psalm 37 according to the Vulgate numbering) was set byJosquin des Prez.[23]
- "Herr, straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn / Lass mich dein Grimm verzehren nicht" (not to be confused with "Herr, straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn / Das bitt ich dich von Herzen", a paraphrase ofPsalm 6),[24]Psalm 38 in theBecker Psalter,[25]was set byHeinrich Schütz(SWV135,Zahn No.5859).[26][27]
- Johann Sebastian Bach set Psalm 38:4 in the opening chorus of his church cantataEs ist nichts Gesundes an meinem Leibe,BWV 25.[citation needed]
- Igor Stravinskyset Psalm 38:13-14 in the first movement of hisSymphony of Psalms.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^Matthew Henry,Commentaries on Psalm 38
- ^abKirkpatrick, A. (1906),Cambridge Bible for Schools and Collegeson Psalm 38, accessed 3 November 2021
- ^Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 37 (38)Archived2017-05-07 at theWayback Machinemedievalist.net
- ^"Psalms – Chapter 38".Mechon Mamre.
- ^"Psalms 38 - JPS 1917".Sefaria.org.
- ^Matthew Henry’sConcise Commentary
- ^John Wesley’sExplanatory Notes.
- ^Charles H. Spurgeon,Treasury of David.
- ^Benjamin Weiss
- ^Christopher Love
- ^Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible.
- ^Charles H. Spurgeon,Treasury of David.
- ^Calvin's Commentaries, Vol. 9: Psalms, Part II,tr. by John King, [1847–50].]
- ^The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 129
- ^D’après leComplete Artscroll Siddur,compilation des prières juives.
- ^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.RetrievedFebruary 28,2019.
- ^Règle de saint Benoît,traduction parProsper Guéranger,p. 46,Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes,réimpression
- ^"La distribution des Psaumes dans la Règle de Saint Benoît | Mont des Cats".
- ^Psautier latin-français du bréviaire monastique, 1938p. 149.
- ^Church of England,Book of Common Prayer: The Psalteras printed byJohn Baskervillein 1762, pp. 196ff
- ^"The Book of Common Prayer: Proper Psalms On Certain Days"(PDF).The Church of England.p. 6.Retrieved19 April2023.
- ^"Torah of Yeshuah: Book of Meqabyan I - III".
- ^Three Psalms by Josquin Desprez:1935 edition at theInternational Music Score Library Project
- ^Gottfried Vopelius(1682).Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch,pp.648–651.
- ^Cornelius Becker(1602).Der Psalter Dauids Gesangweis,"Der XXXVIII. Psalm"
- ^Zahn, Johannes(1890).Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder(in German). Vol. III. Gütersloh:Bertelsmann.pp.131–132,558–559.
- ^Scores of Herr straf mich nicht in Deinem Zorn, SWV 135, by Heinrich Schützin theChoral Public Domain Library(ChoralWiki)
External links
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/38px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)
- Text of Psalms 1–41 from the 1979 Episcopal Book of Common Prayer
- Pieces with text from Psalm 38:Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
- Psalm 38:Free scores at theChoral Public Domain Library(ChoralWiki)
- Psalms Chapter 38text in Hebrew and English, mechon-mamre.org
- A psalm of David. For remembrance. / LORD, do not punish me in your anger; in your wrath do not chastise me!atext and footnotes, usccb.org United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Psalm 38 / Refrain: Make haste to help me.Church of England
- Psalm 38at biblegateway
- Hymns for Psalm 38hymnary.org