David, in physical and spiritual anguish, confesses that his sins are like a heavy burden. Friends keep their distance and enemies are strong, but he waits for the LORD and asks him not to forsake him.
1 A Psalm of David , to bring to remembrance . 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 an 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 .