Daily Bible Reading

Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord

A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

1O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,

nor discipline me in your wrath!

2For your arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand has come down on me.

3There is no soundness in my flesh

because of your indignation;

there is no health in my bones

because of my sin.

4For my iniquities have gone over my head;

like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

5My wounds stink and fester

because of my foolishness,

6I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;

all the day I go about mourning.

7For my sides are filled with burning,

and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8I am feeble and crushed;

I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

9O Lord, all my longing is before you;

my sighing is not hidden from you.

10My heart throbs; my strength fails me,

and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.

11My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,

and my nearest kin stand far off.

12Those who seek my life lay their snares;

those who seek my hurt speak of ruin

and meditate treachery all day long.

13But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,

like a mute man who does not open his mouth.

14I have become like a man who does not hear,

and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

15But for you, O Lord, do I wait;

it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

16For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,

who boast against me when my foot slips!”

17For I am ready to fall,

and my pain is ever before me.

18I confess my iniquity;

I am sorry for my sin.

19But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,

and many are those who hate me wrongfully.

20Those who render me evil for good

accuse me because I follow after good.

21Do not forsake me, O Lord!

O my God, be not far from me!

22Make haste to help me,

O Lord, my salvation!

Psalm 38

A psalm of David. A petition.

1Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger

or discipline me in your wrath.

2Your arrows have pierced me,

and your hand has come down on me.

3Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;

there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.

4My guilt has overwhelmed me

like a burden too heavy to bear.

5My wounds fester and are loathsome

because of my sinful folly.

6I am bowed down and brought very low;

all day long I go about mourning.

7My back is filled with searing pain;

there is no health in my body.

8I am feeble and utterly crushed;

I groan in anguish of heart.

9All my longings lie open before you, Lord;

my sighing is not hidden from you.

10My heart pounds, my strength fails me;

even the light has gone from my eyes.

11My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;

my neighbors stay far away.

12Those who want to kill me set their traps,

those who would harm me talk of my ruin;

all day long they scheme and lie.

13I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,

like the mute, who cannot speak;

14I have become like one who does not hear,

whose mouth can offer no reply.

15Lord, I wait for you;

you will answer, Lord my God.

16For I said, “Do not let them gloat

or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”

17For I am about to fall,

and my pain is ever with me.

18I confess my iniquity;

I am troubled by my sin.

19Many have become my enemies without cause;

those who hate me without reason are numerous.

20Those who repay my good with evil

lodge accusations against me,

though I seek only to do what is good.

21Lord, do not forsake me;

do not be far from me, my God.

22Come quickly to help me,

my Lord and my Savior.