A song of David[192] for the day of remembrance.[193]
<1> Lord, don't criticize me
when you are angry.
Don't discipline me in anger.
<2> You have hurt me.
You punished me and hurt me deeply.
<3> You punished me severely,
now my whole body is sore.
I sinned, so all my bones hurt.
<4> My guilt is like a heavy burden.
I am sinking beneath its weight.
<5> I did a foolish thing,
now I have infected sores that stink.
<6> I am bent and bowed down.
I am depressed all day long.
<7> I am burning with fever,
and my whole body hurts.
<8> I hurt so much I cannot feel anything.
My pounding heart makes me scream!
<9> My Master, you heard my groaning.
You can hear my sighs.
<10> My heart is pounding.
My strength is gone, and I am going blind.[194]
<11> Because of my sickness,
my friends and neighbors will not visit me;
my family will not come near me.
<12> My enemies say bad things about me.
They are spreading lies and rumors.[195]
They talk about me all the time.
<13> But I am like a deaf person
who cannot hear.
I am like a mute person
who cannot speak.
<14> I am like someone who cannot hear
what people are saying about them.
I cannot argue and prove
that my enemies are wrong.
<15> Lord, you must defend me.
God, my Master, you must speak for me.
<16> If I say anything,
then my enemies will laugh at me.
They will see I am sick
and say that I am being punished for doing wrong.
<17> I know I am guilty of doing wrong.
I cannot forget my pain.
<18> Lord, I told you about the bad things I did.
I am worried about my sins.
<19> But my enemies are alive and healthy,
and they have told many lies.
<20> I did nothing but good,
and they paid me back with evil.
I try to do what is right,
but that only makes them turn against me.
<21> Lord, don't leave me.
My God, stay close to me.
<22> Come quickly, and help me.
My God, save me.
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.