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