Behold the power of God in the Psalms!

The future proves the past.

Psalm 38:

A Penitent Sufferer’s Plea for Healing

A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

38 O Lord, rebuke me not in thy anger,

nor chasten me in thy wrath!

2 For thy arrows have sunk into me,

and thy hand has come down on me.

3 There is no soundness in my flesh

because of thy indignation;

there is no health in my bones

because of my sin.

4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;

they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.

5 My wounds grow foul and fester

because of my foolishness,

6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;

all the day I go about mourning.

7 For my loins are filled with burning,

and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8 I am utterly spent and crushed;

I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

9 Lord, all my longing is known to thee,

my sighing is not hidden from thee.

10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me;

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

11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,

and my kinsmen stand afar off.

12 Those who seek my life lay their snares,

those who seek my hurt speak of ruin,

and meditate treachery all the day long.

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

like a dumb man who does not open his mouth.

14 Yea, I am like a man who does not hear,

and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

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

it is thou, O Lord my God, who wilt answer.

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

who boast against me when my foot slips!”

17 For I am ready to fall,

and my pain is ever with me.

18 I confess my iniquity,

I am sorry for my sin.

19 Those who are my foes without cause are mighty,

and many are those who hate me wrongfully.

20 Those who render me evil for good

are my adversaries because I follow after good.

21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!

O my God, be not far from me!

22 Make haste to help me,

O Lord, my salvation!

Behold the power of God in the Psalms!

The future proves the past.

Psalm 39:

Prayer for Wisdom and Forgiveness

A Psalm of David.

39 I said, “I will guard my ways,

that I may not sin with my tongue;

I will bridle my mouth,

so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

2 I was dumb and silent,

I held my peace to no avail;

my distress grew worse,

3 my heart became hot within me.

As I mused, the fire burned;

then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Lord, let me know my end,

and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting my life is!

5 Behold, thou hast made my days a few handbreadths,

and my lifetime is as nothing in thy sight.

Surely every man stands as a mere breath! Selah

6 Surely man goes about as a shadow!

Surely for nought are they in turmoil;

man heaps up, and knows not who will gather!

7 “And now, Lord, for what do I wait?

My hope is in thee.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions.

Make me not the scorn of the fool!

9 I am dumb, I do not open my mouth;

for it is thou who hast done it.

10 Remove thy stroke from me;

I am spent by the blows of thy hand.

11 When thou dost chasten man

with rebukes for sin,

thou dost consume like a moth what is dear to him;

surely every man is a mere breath! Selah

12 “Hear my prayer, O Lord,

and give ear to my cry;

hold not thy peace at my tears!

For I am thy passing guest,

a sojourner, like all my fathers.

13 Look away from me, that I may know gladness,

before I depart and be no more!”

>>1115926

Behold the power of God in the Psalms!

The future proves the past.

Psalm 40:

Thanksgiving for Deliverance and Prayer for Help

A Psalm of David.

40 I waited patiently for the Lord;

he inclined to me and heard my cry.

2 He drew me up from the desolate pit,

out of the miry bog,

and set my feet upon a rock,

making my steps secure.

3 He put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear,

and put their trust in the Lord.

4 Blessed is the man who makes

the Lord his trust,

who does not turn to the proud,

to those who go astray after false gods!

5 Thou hast multiplied, O Lord my God,

thy wondrous deeds and thy thoughts toward us;

none can compare with thee!

Were I to proclaim and tell of them,

they would be more than can be numbered.

6 Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire;

but thou hast given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering

thou hast not required.

7 Then I said, “Lo, I come;

in the roll of the book it is written of me;

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God;

thy law is within my heart.”

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance

in the great congregation;

lo, I have not restrained my lips,

as thou knowest, O Lord.

10 I have not hid thy saving help within my heart,

I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation;

I have not concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness

from the great congregation.

11 Do not thou, O Lord, withhold

thy mercy from me,

let thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness

ever preserve me!

12 For evils have encompassed me

without number;

my iniquities have overtaken me,

till I cannot see;

they are more than the hairs of my head;

my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!

O Lord, make haste to help me!

14 Let them be put to shame and confusion altogether

who seek to snatch away my life;

let them be turned back and brought to dishonor

who desire my hurt!

15 Let them be appalled because of their shame

who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

16 But may all who seek thee

rejoice and be glad in thee;

may those who love thy salvation

say continually, “Great is the Lord!”

17 As for me, I am poor and needy;

but the Lord takes thought for me.

Thou art my help and my deliverer;

do not tarry, O my God!

>>1116281

There are no coincidences.