A Psalm of David, for invocation.

A psalm of David, to recite [(in time of affliction)].

O Lord, rebuke me not in Thy wrath: nor chasten me in Thy hot displeasure.

O L rd, do not chastise me in Your wrath and [do not] afflict me in Your anger.

For Thy arrows stick fast in me, and Thy hand presses me sore.

For Your arrows have descended upon me; Your hand has descended upon me.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of Thy anger; nor is there any health in my bones because of my sin.

There is no whole spot in my flesh in the face of Your ire; there is no peace in my bones in the face of [Your punishment for] my sins.

For my iniquities are gone over my head: like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

For my transgressions have risen above my head. Like a heavy burden, they have become too heavy for me [to sustain].

My wounds stink; they fester because of my foolishness.

My wounds have oozed forth and putrefied [my flesh] because of my wrongdoing.

I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

I have become convulsed and terribly bent. I have gone about in darkness all the day.

For my loins are filled with burning: and there is no soundness in my flesh.

For my thoughts are full of abashment and there is no whole spot in my flesh.

I am feeble and sore broken: I groan by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

I have become terribly faint and downtrodden, and I cry out from a groaning heart.

Lord, all my desire is before Thee; and my sighing is not hid from Thee.

O L rd, all of my desire is before You and my sigh is not hidden from You.

My heart palpitates, my strength fails me: as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me.

My heart is beset [with sorrows]; my strength has left me; and the light of my eyes, too, is not with me.

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

My ["fair-weather"] lovers and friends stand apace from my afflictions, and my close ones stand far off.

And they who seek after my life lay snares for me: and they who seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and meditate deceits all the day long.

The seekers of my soul have set traps [against me], and those who seek evil for me have schemed destruction and plotted deceit the entire day.

But I, like a deaf man, hear not; and like a dumb man that opens not his mouth.

And I [(Israel)] was like a deaf man, not hearing [their taunts]; and as a mute, not opening his mouth.

Thus I was like a man that hears not, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

And I was like one unhearing, with no rebuke in his mouth.

For in Thee, O Lord, I hope: Thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.

For I waited for You, O L rd; that You answer them, O L rd, my G d.

For I said, Lest they should rejoice over me: when my foot slips, they magnify themselves against me.

For I said: Lest [(if I answer them audaciously)] they will rejoice over me if my feet slip [i.e., at my downfall], aggrandizing [themselves (saying: "Where is all your boasting now!")]

For I am ready to stumble, and my pain is continually before me.

For I am conversant with calamity and my pain is before me [(awaiting materialization)] always.

For I will declare my iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

For I relate my transgression [i.e., my heart apprises me of it, wherefore] I am [always] worried [(over impending punishment)] for my sin.

But my enemies are in vigorous life; and they who hate me wrongfully are many.

And my foes revel in life [(in tranquility and well-being)], and my haters for falsehood [(i.e., for naught)] have multiplied.

They also who render evil for good are my adversaries; because I follow what is good.

As have those who repay evil for good. They hate me [(Israel)] for my pursuit of good [i.e., for cleaving to the L rd and His mitzvoth].

Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me.

Do not forsake me, O L rd, my G d; do not go far from me.

Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Hasten to my aid, O L rd of my salvation.