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Psalm 38

1  Rebuke me not, O Lord, in your anger, ♦︎
   neither chasten me in your heavy displeasure.
2  For your arrows have stuck fast in me ♦︎
   and your hand presses hard upon me.
3  There is no health in my flesh
      because of your indignation; ♦︎
   there is no peace in my bones because of my sin.
4  For my iniquities have gone over my head; ♦︎
   their weight is a burden too heavy to bear.
5  My wounds stink and fester ♦︎
   because of my foolishness.
6  I am utterly bowed down and brought very low; ♦︎
   I go about mourning all the day long.
7  My loins are filled with searing pain; ♦︎
   there is no health in my flesh.
8  I am feeble and utterly crushed; ♦︎
   I roar aloud because of the disquiet of my heart.
9  O Lord, you know all my desires ♦︎
   and my sighing is not hidden from you.
10  My heart is pounding, my strength has failed me; ♦︎
   the light of my eyes is gone from me.
11  My friends and companions stand apart from my affliction; ♦︎
   my neighbours stand afar off.
12  Those who seek after my life lay snares for me; ♦︎
   and those who would harm me whisper evil
      and mutter slander all the day long.
13  But I am like one who is deaf and hears not, ♦︎
   like one that is dumb, who does not open his mouth.
14  I have become like one who does not hear ♦︎
   and from whose mouth comes no retort.
15  For in you, Lord, have I put my trust; ♦︎
   you will answer me, O Lord my God.
16  For I said, ‘Let them not triumph over me, ♦︎
   those who exult over me when my foot slips.’
17  Truly, I am on the verge of falling ♦︎
   and my pain is ever with me.
18  I will confess my iniquity ♦︎
   and be sorry for my sin.
19  Those that are my enemies without any cause are mighty, ♦︎
   and those who hate me wrongfully are many in number.
20  Those who repay evil for good are against me, ♦︎
   because the good is what I seek.
21  Forsake me not, O Lord; ♦︎
   be not far from me, O my God.
22  Make haste to help me, ♦︎
   O Lord of my salvation.

Suffering for Doing Right

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. ⁹Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. ¹⁰For
‘Those who desire life
   and desire to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
   and their lips from speaking deceit;
¹¹ let them turn away from evil and do good;
   let them seek peace and pursue it.
¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
   and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’

13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? ¹⁴But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear,^* and do not be intimidated, ¹⁵but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; ¹⁶yet do it with gentleness and reverence.^* Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. ¹⁸For Christ also suffered^* for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you^* to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,