Verses 1–22
XXXVIII. A Penitential Psalm.— After a short prayer for pity (verbally identical with Psalms 6:2), the poet describes his bodily and mental pains, the desertion of his friends, and the unscrupulous attack of his foes. But he waits in silence for Yahweh’ s answer and is ready to confess his sin, turning eagerly and hopefully to his God.
Psalms 38:2 . arrows: the pains God sends.
Psalms 38:8 b. Read, “ I have cried out louder than the roaring of a lion.”
Psalms 38:18 . It is impossible to say whether the poet is referring to some definite sin or only to the general sinfulness of human nature.