Mazmur 38:11-13

38:11 Because of my condition, ¹  even my friends and acquaintances keep their distance; ² 

my neighbors stand far away. ³ 

38:12 Those who seek my life try to entrap me; ⁴ 

those who want to harm me speak destructive words;

all day long they say deceitful things.

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

I am like a mute who cannot speak. ⁵ 

[38:11]  ¹ tn Or “wound,” or “illness.”

[38:11]  ² tn Heb “stand [aloof].”

[38:11]  ³ tn Heb “and the ones near me off at a distance stand.”

[38:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “lay snares.”

[38:13]  ⁵ 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).