Psalms 38:13-16

38:13 But I am like a deaf man – I hear nothing;

I am like a mute who cannot speak. ¹ 

38:14 I am like a man who cannot hear

and is incapable of arguing his defense. ² 

38:15 Yet ³  I wait for you, O Lord!

You will respond, O Lord, my God!

38:16 I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me; ⁴ 

when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me. ⁵ 

[38:13]  ¹ sn I am like a deaf man…like a mute. The psalmist is like a deaf mute; he is incapable of defending himself and is vulnerable to his enemies’ deception (see v. 14).

[38:14]  ² tn Heb “and there is not in his mouth arguments.”

[38:15]  ³ tn Or perhaps “surely.”

[38:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “For I said, ‘Lest they rejoice over me.’” The psalmist recalls the motivating argument of his petition. He probably prefaced this statement with a prayer for deliverance (see Pss 7:1-2; 13:3-4; 28:1).

[38:16]  ⁵ tn Heb “they will magnify against me.” See Pss 35:26; 55:13.