Psalm 38, “Rebuke me not, O Lord, in thy indignation; nor chastise me in thy wrath,” is the third of the seven penitential psalms, the prayer of someone who feels the weight of sin in body and mind and has been abandoned by friends. It ends in a humble plea: “Forsake me not, O Lord my God: do not thou depart from me.” In the Douay-Rheims it is numbered Psalm 37. Below is the full Catholic text, what the psalm means, how the Church uses it, and a prayer.
Psalm 38 in the Douay-Rheims Bible
A psalm for David, for a remembrance of the sabbath.
Rebuke me not, O Lord, in thy indignation; nor chastise me in thy wrath.
For thy arrows are fastened in me: and thy hand hath been strong upon me.
There is no health in my flesh, because of thy wrath: there is no peace for my bones, because of my sins.
For my iniquities are gone over my head: and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon me.
My sores are putrified and corrupted, because of my foolishness.
I am become miserable, and am bowed down even to the end: I walked sorrowful all the day long.
For my loins are filled with illusions; and there is no health in my flesh.
I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: I roared with the groaning of my heart.
Lord, all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hidden from thee.
My heart is troubled, my strength hath left me, and the light of my eyes itself is not with me.
My friends and my neighbours have drawn near, and stood against me. And they that were near me stood afar off:
And they that sought my soul used violence. And they that sought evils to me spoke vain things, and studied deceits all the day long.
But I, as a deaf man, heard not: and as a dumb man not opening his mouth.
And I became as a man that heareth not: and that hath no reproofs in his mouth.
For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped: thou wilt hear me, O Lord my God.
For I said: Lest at any time my enemies rejoice over me: and whilst my feet are moved, they speak great things against me.
For I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is continually before me.
For I will declare my iniquity: and I will think for my sin.
But my enemies live, and are stronger than I: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.
They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I followed goodness.
Forsake me not, O Lord my God: do not thou depart from me.
Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation.
Psalm 38 or Psalm 37?
The Douay-Rheims Bible follows the numbering of the Latin Vulgate and the Greek Septuagint, while most modern Bibles follow the Hebrew. So the Douay’s Psalm 37 is Psalm 38 in the New American Bible and other modern translations. In Latin the psalm begins Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me, neque in ira tua corripias me. See how many psalms are there?
What the psalm means
- Sin weighs on the whole person: “there is no peace for my bones, because of my sins.”
- Honest confession: the psalmist blames no one but himself.
- Abandoned by friends: “they that were near me stood afar off,” words the Church hears again at the Passion, when Jesus’ acquaintances “stood afar off” (Luke 23:49). See Good Friday.
- Silent before accusers: like Christ, the psalmist does not answer back, but waits for God.
- “Forsake me not”: even in the depths, he still calls God “my God.”
How the Church uses Psalm 38
- Among the seven penitential psalms, prayed in Lent and on Fridays. See the seven penitential psalms.
- In times of guilt or depression, as a prayer that God will not abandon us.
A prayer with Psalm 38
Written for this page:
Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger; I feel the weight of my sins.
You know all my longing; my sighing is not hidden from you.
When friends stand far off, do not forsake me, O Lord my God.
Make haste to help me, Lord of my salvation. Amen.
Frequently asked questions
What is Psalm 38 about?
A sinner who suffers in body and spirit and is abandoned by friends, yet trusts that God will not forsake him.
Why is Psalm 38 a penitential psalm?
Because it confesses sin and begs God’s mercy; it is the third of the seven penitential psalms.
More psalms and prayers
Texts and sources
- Scripture: Psalm 37 (38); Luke 23:49, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The prayer was written for this page.