38:7 For I am overcome with shame 1
and my whole body is sick. 2
38:9 O Lord, you understand my heart’s desire; 3
my groaning is not hidden from you.
1 tn Heb “for my loins are filled with shame.” The “loins” are viewed here as the seat of the psalmist’s emotions. The present translation assumes that נִקְלֶה (niqleh) is derived from קָלָה (qalah, “be dishonored”). Some derive it instead from a homonymic root קָלָה (qalah), meaning “to roast.” In this case one might translate “fever” (cf. NEB “my loins burn with fever”).
2 tn Heb “there is no soundness in my flesh” (see v. 3).
3 tn Heb “O Lord, before you [is] all my desire.”