1 Lord, don’t criticize me when you are angry. Don’t discipline me in anger.
2 You have hurt me. You punished me and hurt me deeply.
3 You punished me severely, so my whole body is sore. I sinned, and now all my bones hurt.
4 My guilt is like a heavy burden. I am sinking beneath its weight.
5 I did a foolish thing, and now I have infected sores that stink.
6 I am bent and bowed down. I am depressed all day long.
7 I am burning with fever, and my whole body hurts.
8 I hurt so much I cannot feel anything. My pounding heart makes me scream!
9 My Lord, you heard my groaning. You can hear my sighs.
10 My heart is pounding. My strength is gone, and I am going blind.
11 Because of my sickness, my friends and neighbors will not visit me; my family will not come near me.
12 My enemies say bad things about me. They are spreading lies and rumors. They talk about me all the time.
13 But I am like a deaf man and cannot hear. I am like someone who cannot speak.
14 I am like those who cannot hear what people are saying about them. I cannot answer to prove my enemies wrong.
15 Lord, you must defend me. Lord my God, you must speak for me.
16 That’s why I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies smile at my pain. Full of pride, they will laugh if I stumble and fall.”
17 I know I am guilty of doing wrong. I cannot forget my pain.
18 Lord, I told you about the evil I have done. I am sorry for my sin.
19 But my enemies are alive and healthy, and they have told many lies.
20 I did nothing but good, and they paid me back with evil. I try to do what is right, but that only makes them turn against me.
21 Lord, don’t leave me. My God, stay close to me.