Psalm 38
Geneva Study Bible
For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.
For thine {c} arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

(c) Your sickness, with which you have visited me.

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

(d) David acknowledges God to be just in his punishments, because his sins had deserved much more.

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

(e) He confesses his sins, God's justice, and makes prayer his refuge.

My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.
My wounds stink and are corrupt because of {f} my foolishness.

(f) That rather gave place to my own lusts, than to the will of God.

I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.
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.
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.
I am feeble and sore broken: I {g} have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

(g) This example warns us never to despair, no matter how great the torment: but always to cry to God with sure trust for deliverance.

Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
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 heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, {h} it also is gone from me.

(h) My sight fails me for sorrow.

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my {i} kinsmen stand afar off.

(i) Partly for fear and partly for pride, they denied all duty and friendship.

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

(k) For I can have no audience before men, and therefore patiently wait for the help of God.

Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.
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 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 said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: {l} when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

(l) That is, if they see that you do not help me in time, they will mock and triumph as though you had forsaken me.

For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
For I am ready to {m} halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.

(m) I am without hope to recover my strength.

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
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.
But mine {n} enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

(n) In my greatest misery they most rejoice.

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

(o) He would rather have the hatred of all the world, than fail in any part of his duty to God.

Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.
Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.
Make haste to help me, O Lord my {p} salvation.

(p) Who is the author of my salvation: and this declares that he prayed with sure hope of deliverance.

The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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