Psalms 38:16-18

38:16 I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me; ¹ 

when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me. ² 

38:17 For I am about to stumble,

and I am in constant pain. ³ 

38:18 Yes, ⁴  I confess my wrongdoing,

and I am concerned about my sins.

[38:16]  ¹ 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]  ² tn Heb “they will magnify against me.” See Pss 35:26; 55:13.

[38:17]  ³ tn Heb “and my pain [is] before me continually.”

[38:18]  ⁵ tn Or “for.” The translation assumes that כִּי (ki) is asseverative here.