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Do Not Rebuke Me in Your Anger
Psalm 38 is a sorrowful prayer-song in which the speaker asks Yahweh not to rebuke him in wrath, not to forsake him, and to hurry to help. Its words hold together pain, confession and continued prayer.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
Within this psalm, the speaker uses poetic images such as arrows, a heavy burden and a slipping foot. He connects his suffering with his own sin, describes bodily and inner distress, speaks of distance from other people and opposition from enemies, and ends by calling Yahweh his salvation.
Psalms 38:1–22Main takeaway
Psalm 38 shows a sufferer confessing sin, naming deep distress honestly, and still turning to Yahweh for help.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A cry under God’s rebukeThe psalm begins with a plea that Yahweh would not rebuke or chasten in wrath. The speaker then describes arrows piercing and a heavy hand pressing on him, poetic pictures of severe trouble.
Explanation
The psalm begins with a plea that Yahweh would not rebuke or chasten in wrath. The speaker then describes arrows piercing and a heavy hand pressing on him, poetic pictures of severe trouble. He does not only describe pain. He also says there is no health because of his sin, and that his iniquities are a burden too heavy for him.
02Pain laid open before the LordThe next lines continue with wounds, mourning, burning, faintness and groaning. The psalm speaks plainly about suffering in body and heart.
Explanation
The next lines continue with wounds, mourning, burning, faintness and groaning. The psalm speaks plainly about suffering in body and heart. Verse 9 makes the direction of this speech clear: the speaker says that all his desire is before the Lord, and that his groaning is not hidden from him. Even failing strength is spoken in God’s hearing.
03Like a deaf and mute man, yet hopingThe speaker then describes isolation. Friends, lovers and kinsmen stay far away, while others set snares and speak deceit.
Explanation
The speaker then describes isolation. Friends, lovers and kinsmen stay far away, while others set snares and speak deceit. In that situation he says he is like a deaf man who does not hear and like a mute man who does not open his mouth. Yet this likeness to silence is followed by hope, because he says he hopes in Yahweh and that the Lord will answer.
04Confession, opposition and urgent helpThe final movement joins weakness, confession and appeal. The speaker fears enemies gloating when his foot slips and says he is ready to fall.
Explanation
The final movement joins weakness, confession and appeal. The speaker fears enemies gloating when his foot slips and says he is ready to fall. He declares his iniquity and is sorry for his sin. His enemies are many, and adversaries oppose him because he follows what is good. So he asks Yahweh not to forsake him and to hurry to help.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does the opening of the psalm connect God’s rebuke with the speaker’s own wrongdoing?
Notice where the speaker mentions Yahweh’s wrath and hand, then names his sin, iniquities and foolishness as part of the same plea.
02What shows that the speaker brings his pain specifically before the Lord?
Look for the verse that says his desire is before the Lord and that his groaning is not hidden from him.
03What two things stand together near the end of the psalm: the speaker’s conduct and his enemies’ response?
Compare his confession of iniquity with the statement that adversaries oppose him because he follows what is good.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Psalms 38:1–22
1Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.
2For your arrows have pierced me, your hand presses hard on me.
3There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation, neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.
4For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
5My wounds are loathsome and corrupt because of my foolishness.
6I am in pain and bowed down greatly. I go mourning all day long.
7For my waist is filled with burning. There is no soundness in my flesh.
8I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.
9Lord, all my desire is before you. My groaning is not hidden from you.
10My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.
11My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague. My kinsmen stand far away.
12They also who seek after my life lay snares. Those who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all day long.
13But I, as a deaf man, don’t hear. I am as a mute man who doesn’t open his mouth.
14Yes, I am as a man who doesn’t hear, in whose mouth are no reproofs.
15For I hope in you, Yahweh. You will answer, Lord my God.
16For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”
17For I am ready to fall. My pain is continually before me.
18For I will declare my iniquity. I will be sorry for my sin.
19But my enemies are vigorous and many. Those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20They who give evil for good are also adversaries to me, because I follow what is good.
21Don’t forsake me, Yahweh. My God, don’t be far from me.
22Hurry to help me, Lord, my salvation.