The Eastern Cross/Bible/Psalms/Psalm 37
The Book of Psalms · the Psalter
Psalm 38 in the KJV and most English Bibles
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A Psalm of David for remembrance concerning the Sabbath day.
Φαλμὸς τῷ Δαυὶδ εἰς ἀνάμνησιν περὶ σαββάτου.
O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath, Neither chasten me in thine anger.
Κύριε, μὴ τῷ θυμῷ σου ἐλέγξῃς με, μηδὲ τῇ ὀργῇ σου παιδεύσῃς με.
"O Lord, rebuke me not in Your indignation; neither chasten me in Your hot displeasure". For it will be that some shall be chastened in God's "hot displeasure," and rebuked in His "indignation." And haply not all who are "rebuked" will be "chastened;" yet are there some that are to be saved in the chastening. So it is…
For thy weapons are fixed in me, And thou hast pressed thy hand heavily upon me.
Ὅτι τὰ βέλη σου ἐνεπάγησάν μοι, καὶ ἐπεστήριξας ἐπʼ ἐμὲ τὴν χεῖρά σου.
"For Your arrows stick fast in me, and Your hand presses me sore". "There is no soundness in my flesh, from the face of Your anger". He has now begun telling these evils, which he is suffering here: and yet even this already was from the wrath of the Lord, because it was of the vengeance of the Lord. "Of what…
For there is no health in my flesh because of thine anger; There is no peace to my bones because of my sins.
Οὐκ ἔστιν ἴασις ἐν τῇ σαρκί μου ἀπὸ προσώπου τῆς ὀργῆς σου, οὐκ ἔστιν εἰρήνη τοῖς ὀστέοις μου ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν μου.
For my transgressions have gone over my head: They have pressed heavily upon me like a weighty burden.
Ὅτι αἱ ἀνομίαι μου ὑπερῇραν τὴν κεφαλήν μου, ὡσεὶ φορτίον βαρὺ ἐβαρύνθησαν ἐπʼ ἐμέ.
"For mine iniquities have lifted up my head; and are like a heavy burden too heavy for me to bear" (ver. 4). Here too he has placed the cause first, and the effect afterwards. What consequence followed, and from what cause, he has told us. "Mine iniquities have lift up mine head." For no one is proud but the…
My bruises have become noisome and corrupt, Because of my foolishness.
Προσώζεσαν καὶ ἐσάπησαν οἱ μώλωπές μου, ἀπὸ προσώπου τῆς ἀφροσύνης μου.
"My wounds stink and are corrupt". Now he who has wounds is not perfectly sound. Add to this, that the wounds "stink and are corrupt." Wherefore do they "stink"? Because they are "corrupt:" now in what way this is explained in reference to human life, who doth not understand? Let a man but have his soul's sense of…
I have been wretched and bowed down continually: I went with a mourning countenance all the day.
Ἐταλαιπώρησα καὶ κατεκάμφθην ἕως τέλους, ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν σκυθρωπάζων ἐπορευόμην.
"I am troubled, I am bowed down even unto the end". Wherefore was he "bowed down"? Because he had been "lifted up." If thou art "humble, thou shalt be exalted;" if thou exaltest thyself, thou shalt be "bowed down;" for God will be at no loss to find a weight wherewith to bow thee down. ...Let him groan on these…
For my soul is filled with mockings; And there is no health in my flesh.
Ὅτι ἡ ψυχή μου ἐπλησθη ἐμπαιγμῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἴασις ἐν τῇ σαρκί μου.
"For my soul is filled with illusions, and there is no soundness in my flesh". Where there is the whole man, there there is soul and flesh both. The "soul is filled with illusions;" the flesh hath "no soundness." What does there remain that can give joy? Is it not meet that one should "go mourning"? "All the day long…
I have been afflicted and brought down exceedingly: I have roared for the groaning of my heart.
Ἐκακώθην καὶ ἐταπεινώθην ἕως σφόδρα, ὠρυόμην ἀπὸ στεναγμοῦ τῆς καρδίας μου.
"I am become feeble, and am bowed down greatly". He who calls to mind the transcendent height of the Sabbath, sees how "greatly" he is himself "bowed down." For he who cannot conceive what is that height of rest, sees not where he is at present. Therefore another Psalm hath said, "I said in my trance, I am cast out of…
But all my desire is before thee; And my groaning is not hidden from thee.
Καὶ ἐναντίον σου πᾶσα ἡ ἐπιθυμία μου, καὶ ὁ στεναγμός μου οὐκ ἀπεκρύβη ἀπὸ σοῦ.
And who observed and noticed the cause of his groaning? "All my desire is before You". For it is not before men who cannot see the heart, but it is before You that all my desire is open! Let your desire be before Him; and "the Father, who sees in secret, shall reward you." [Matthew 6:6] For it is your heart's desire…
My heart is troubled, my strength has failed me; And the light of mine eyes is not with me.
Ἡ καρδία μου ἐταράχθη, ἐγκατέλιπέ με ἡ ἰσχύς μου, καὶ τὸ φῶς τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν μου οὐκ ἔστι μετʼ ἐμοῦ.
"My heart is troubled." Wherefore is it troubled? "And my courage hath failed me." Generally something comes upon us on a sudden; the "heart is troubled;" the earth quakes; thunder is sent from Heaven; a formidable attack is made upon us, or a horrible sound heard. Perhaps a lion is seen on the road; the "heart is…
My friends and my neighbors drew near before me, and stood still; And my nearest of kin stood afar off.
Οἱ φίλοι μου καὶ οἱ πλησίον μου ἐξ ἐναντίας μου ἤγγισαν καὶ ἔστησαν, καὶ οἱ ἔγγιστά μου μακρόθεν ἔστησαν,
"My lovers;" why should I henceforth speak of my enemies? "My lovers and my neighbours drew nigh, and stood over against me." Understand this that he saith, "Stood over against me." For if they stood over against me, they fell against themselves. "My lovers and my neighbours drew nigh and stood over against me." Let…
While they pressed hard upon me that sought my soul: And they that sought my hurt spoke vanities, And devised deceits all the day.
καὶ ἐξεβιάζοντο οἱ ζητοῦντες τὴν ψυχήν μου· καὶ οἱ ζητοῦντες τὰ κακά μοι ἐλάλησαν ματαιότητας, καὶ δολιότητας ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν ἐμελέτησαν.
"They also that sought after my soul were preparing violence against me". It is now plain who "sought after His soul;" viz. those who had not His soul, in that they were not in His Body. They who were "seeking after His soul," were far removed from His soul; but they were "seeking it" to destroy it. For His soul may…
But I, as a deaf man, heard not; And was as a dumb man not opening his mouth.
Ἐγὼ δὲ ὡσεὶ κωφὸς οὐκ ἤκουον, καὶ ὡσεὶ ἄλαλος οὐκ ἀνοίγων τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ·
He says then, "But I as a deaf man heard not". He who replied not to what He heard, did, as it were, not hear them. "But I as a deaf man heard not. And I was as a dumb man that opens not his mouth." And he repeats the same things again.
And I was as a man that hears not, And who has no reproofs in his mouth.
Καὶ ἐγενόμην ὡσεὶ ἄνθρωπος οὐκ ἀκούων, καὶ οὐκ ἔχων ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτοῦ ἐλεγμούς.
"And I became as a man that hears not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs". As if He had nothing to say unto them, as if He had nothing wherewith to reproach them. Had He not already reproached them for many things? Had He not said many things, and also said, "Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees," [Matthew 23:13] and…
For I hoped in thee, O Lord: Thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.
Ὅτι ἐπὶ σοὶ Κύριε ἤλπισα, σὺ εἰσακούσῃ Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου.
"For in Thee, O Lord, do I hope; Thou wilt hear, O Lord, my God." As if it were said to Him, "Wherefore openedst thou not thy mouth? Wherefore didst Thou not say, 'Refrain'? Wherefore didst Thou not rebuke the unrighteous, while hanging on the Cross?" He goes on and says, "For in Thee, O Lord, do I hope; Thou, O Lord…
For I said, Lest mine enemies rejoice against me: For when my feet were moved, they spoke boastingly against me.
Ὅτι εἶπα, μή ποτε ἐπιχαρῶσί μοι οἱ ἐχθροί μου, καὶ ἐν τῷ σαλευθῆναι πόδας μου, ἐπʼ ἐμὲ ἐμεγαλοῤῥημόνησαν.
"For I said, Let not mine enemies ever rejoice over me. And when my feet slip, they magnify themselves against me" (ver. 16). Again He returns to the infirmity of His Body: and again the Head takes heed of Its "feet." The Head is not in such a manner in Heaven, as to forsake what It has on earth; He evidently sees and…
For I am ready for plagues, And my grief is continually before me.
Ὅτι ἐγὼ εἰς μάστιγας ἕτοιμος, καὶ ἡ ἀλγηδών μου ἐνώπιόν μου διαπαντός.
"For I am prepared for the scourges" (ver. 17). Quite a magnificent expression; as if He were saying, "It was even for this that I was born; that I might suffer." For He was not to be born, but from Adam, to whom the scourge is due. But sinners are in this life sometimes not scourged at all, or are scourged less than…
For I will declare mine iniquity, And be distressed for my sin.
Ὅτι τὴν ἀνομίαν μου ἀναγγελῶ, καὶ μεριμνήσω ὑπὲρ τῆς ἁμαρτίας μου.
"And my sorrow is continually before me." What "sorrow" is that? Perhaps, a sorrow for my scourge. And, in good truth, my brethren, in good truth, let me say unto you, men do mourn for their scourges, not for the causes on account of which they are scourged. Not such was the person here. Listen, my brethren: If any…
But mine enemies live, and are mightier than I: And they that hate me unjustly are multiplied.
Οἱ δὲ ἐχθροί μου ζῶσι, καὶ κεκραταίωνται ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ, καὶ ἐπληθύνθησαν οἱ μισοῦντές με ἀδίκως.
"But mine enemies live". They are well off: they rejoice in worldly prosperity, while I am suffering, and "roaring with the groaning of my heart." In what way do His enemies "live," in that He has said of them already, that they have "spoken vanity"? Hear in another Psalm also: "Whose sons are as young plants; firmly…
They that reward evil for good slandered me; Because I followed righteousness.
Οἱ ἀνταποδιδόντες κακὰ ἀντὶ ἀγαθῶν, ἐνδιέβαλλόν με, ἐπεὶ κατεδίωκον δικαιοσύνην.
"They also that render evil for good, were speaking evil of me, because I have pursued the thing that is just" (ver. 20). Therefore was it that I was requited evil for good. What is meant by "pursued after the thing that is just"? Not forsaken it. That you might not always understand persecutio in a bad sense, He…
Forsake me not, O Lord my God: Depart not from me.
Μὴ ἐγκαταλίπῃς με Κύριε ὁ Θεός μου, μὴ ἀποστῇς ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ.
"Forsake me not, O Lord; O my God, depart not from me". Let us speak in Him, let us speak through Him (for He Himself intercedes for us), and let us say, "Forsake me not, O Lord my God." And yet He had said, "My God! My God! Why have You forsaken Me?" [Matthew 27:46] and He now says, "O My God, depart not from Me." If…
Draw nigh to my help, O Lord of my salvation.
Πρόσχες εἰς τὴν βοήθειάν μου Κύριε τῆς σωτηρίας μου.
"Depart not from me. Make haste to help me, Lord of my salvation". This is that very "salvation," Brethren, concerning which, as the Apostle Peter says, "Prophets have enquired diligently," [1 Peter 1:10] and though they have enquired diligently, yet have not found it. But they searched into it, and foretold of it;…
Every note is a real passage, quoted word for word from a published English translation, with its source. Nothing here is summarised or written by us. Some verses have many notes and some have none, because the Fathers wrote more on some passages than others.
All of these translations are in the public domain. The passages were matched to their verses by the Historical Christian Commentaries project, which also hosts the full texts we link to. The Fathers are a treasury of the Church's mind, and they are best read alongside the life of the Church: if a passage raises a question, bring it to your priest.