Psalm-38

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Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of Thy Law!

Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..

(JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’

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“Tehillim - Psalm 38”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Tehillim - Psalm 38 is a penitential lament of David that combines bodily suffering, moral self, ‘accusation’, ‘social alienation’, and ‘a final appeal to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s (God’s) mercy’; it is useful for teaching about ‘sin’, ‘suffering’, and ‘trust in the face of affliction’.

Tehillim - Psalm Chapter 38: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

1. “A Psalm of David, to make memorial.
2. O יְהוָה - LORD, rebuke me not in Thine anger; neither chasten me in Thy wrath.
3. For Thine arrows are gone deep into me, and Thy hand is come down upon me.
4. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Thine indignation; neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.
5. For mine iniquities are gone over my head; as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
6. My wounds are noisome; they fester, because of my foolishness.
7. I am bent and bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day.
8. For my loins are filled with burning; and there is no soundness in my flesh.
9. I am benumbed and sore crushed; I groan by reason of the moaning of my heart.
10. יְהוָה - LORD, all my desire is before Thee; and my sighing is not hid from Thee.
11. My heart fluttereth, my strength faileth me; as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.
12. My friends and my companions stand aloof from my plague; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
13. 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. But I am as a deaf man, I hear not; and I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.
15. Yea, I am become as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no arguments.
16. For in Thee, O יְהוָה - LORD, do I hope; Thou wilt answer, O יְהוָה - LORD my אֱלֹהִים – Elohim.
17. For I said: 'Lest they rejoice over me; when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.'
18. For I am ready to halt, and my pain is continually before me.
19. For I do declare mine iniquity; I am full of care because of my sin.
20. But mine enemies are strong in health; and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
21. They also that repay evil for good are adversaries unto me, because I follow the thing that is good.
22. Forsake me not, O יְהוָה - LORD; O my אֱלֹהִים be not far from me.
23. Make haste to help me, O יְהוָה – LORD, my salvation”.

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Now we will look at the ‘verse by verse’ item, complete with explanations:

Verse 1. “A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance”.

Explanation: The superscription frames the Psalm as a memorial composition, intended for liturgical or didactic use.

Verse 2. “O יְהוָה - LORD, rebuke me not in Thine anger; neither chasten me in Thy wrath”.

Explanation: A plea to avoid the full force of divine anger while acknowledging the need for correction.

Verse 3. “For Thine arrows are gone deep into me, and Thy hand is come down upon me”.

Explanation: Suffering is described as divine assault, intense and personal.

Verse 4. “There is no soundness in my flesh because of Thine indignation; neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin”.

Explanation: Physical illness is linked to moral condition; the Psalmist reads bodily pain as consequence.

Verse 5. “For mine iniquities are gone over my head; as a heavy burden they are too heavy for me”.

Explanation: Guilt is overwhelming and crushing.

Verse 6. “My wounds are noisome, they fester, because of my foolishness”.

Explanation: The Psalmist admits folly as cause of his affliction.

Verse 7. “I am bent and bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day”.

Explanation: Persistent sorrow and physical debility mark daily life.

Verse 8. “For my loins are filled with burning; and there is no soundness in my flesh”.

Explanation: Pain is vivid and pervasive.

Verse 9. “I am benumbed and sore crushed; I groan by reason of the moaning of my heart”.

Explanation: Emotional anguish accompanies physical collapse.

Verse 10. “יְהוָה LORD, all my desire is before Thee; and my sighing is not hid from Thee”.

Explanation: Despite suffering, the Psalmist trusts אֱלֹהִים - Elohim knows his inner distress.

Verse 11. “My heart fluttereth, my strength faileth me; as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me”.

Explanation: Weakness affects body, spirit, and perception.

Verse 12. “My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague; and my kinsmen stand afar off”.

Explanation: Illness brings social abandonment.

Verse 13. “They also that seek after my life lay snares; and they that seek my hurt speak of destruction, and meditate deceit all the day”.

Explanation: Enemies exploit weakness with plots and slander.

Verse 14. “But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth”.

Explanation: The Psalmist responds with silence and inward suffering.

Verse 15. “Yea, I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs”.

Explanation: He refrains from protest or defense.

Verse 16. “For in Thee, O יְהוָה - LORD, do I hope: Thou wilt hear, O יְהוָה - LORD my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim”.

Explanation: A turn to trust אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is the Psalmist’s hope and listener.

Verse 17. “For I said, Hear me, lest they rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me”.

Explanation: Fear that enemies will gloat over his fall prompts appeal to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.

Verse 18. “For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me”.

Explanation: Ongoing grief impairs his life’s progress.

Verse 19. “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin”.

Explanation: He resolves to confess and repent.

Verse 20. “But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong; and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied”.

Explanation: Despite repentance, opposition remains vigorous.

Verse 21. “They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is”.

Explanation: The Psalmist suffers despite pursuing good, highlighting moral paradox.

Verse 22. “Forsake me not, O יְהוָה - LORD: O my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, be not far from me”.

Explanation: A desperate plea for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s nearness and sustaining presence.

Verse 23. “Make haste to help me, O יְהוָה - LORD my salvation”.

Explanation: The Psalm closes with urgent petition for swift deliverance.

My Closing message:

Psalm 38 models honest penitence: it names ‘suffering’, ‘confesses guilt’, acknowledges ‘social pain’, and ultimately rests in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s attentive mercy, teach us that confession and trust are the Psalm’s twin responses to affliction.

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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,

He is the one who gave us our Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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