O LORD, rebuke me not in Your wrath, And chasten me not in Your burning anger.
2
For Your arrows have sunk deep into me, And Your hand has pressed down on me.
3
There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your indignation; There is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4
For my iniquities are gone over my head; As a heavy burden they weigh too much for me.
5
My wounds grow foul and fester Because of my folly.
Psalms 38:2 — Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions
What does Psalms 38:2 say?
Psalms 38:2 in the NASB reads: “For Your arrows have sunk deep into me, And Your hand has pressed down on me.”
Where is Psalms 38:2 in the Bible?
Psalms 38:2 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Psalms, chapter 38, verse 2.
Who wrote Psalms?
Psalms is traditionally attributed to Multiple authors (David, Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, others). Approximately 73 psalms are attributed to David; others to Asaph, the sons of Korah, Solomon, Moses, Heman, and Ethan; the remainder are anonymous. It was written c. 1410–430 BC.
What is the book of Psalms about?
The Psalms are the prayer book and hymnal of God's people, gathering a thousand years of inspired song — praise, lament, thanksgiving, confession, and royal and messianic worship. Every emotion of the believing heart finds a voice here, and every voice finds its center in Christ.
What are the major themes of Psalms?
Psalms explores themes including Praise, Lament, Trust, Messiah, Refuge, Kingship. These themes shape the meaning and context of Psalms 38:2.
What translation should I read Psalms 38:2 in?
Psalms 38:2 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Psalms 38:2?
Psalms 38:2 reads (NASB): “For Your arrows have sunk deep into me, And Your hand has pressed down on me.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.