Psalm 38
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger;
do not punish me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have already pierced me,
and your hand presses hard upon me.
3 There is no health in my flesh,
because of your indignation;
there is no soundness in my body, because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities overwhelm me;
like a heavy burden they are too much for me to bear.
5 My wounds stink and fester
by reason of my foolishness.
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
I go about in mourning all the day long.
7 My loins are filled with searing pain;
there is no health in my body.
8 I am utterly numb and crushed;
I wail, because of the groaning of my heart.
9 O Lord, you know all my desires,
and my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart is pounding, my strength has failed me,
and the brightness of my eyes is gone from me.
11 My friends and companions draw back from my affliction;
my neighbors stand afar off.
12 Those who seek after my life lay snares for me;
those who strive to hurt me speak of my ruin
and plot treachery all the day long.
13 But I am like the deaf who do not hear,
like those who are mute and who do not open their mouth.
14 I have become like one who does not hear
and from whose mouth comes no defense.
15 For in you, O LORD, have I fixed my hope;
you will answer me, O Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them rejoice at my expense,
those who gloat over me when my foot slips.”
17 Truly, I am on the verge of falling,
and my pain is always with me.
18 I will confess my iniquity
and be sorry for my sin.
19 Those who are my enemies without cause are mighty,
and many in number are those who wrongfully hate me.
20 Those who repay evil for good slander me,
because I follow the course that is right.
21 O LORD, do not forsake me;
be not far from me, O my God.
22 Make haste to help me,
O Lord of my salvation.
Collect of the Day: The Second Sunday in Advent
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
