Back to Psalms 38

Psalms 38:21

Don’t forsake me, Yahweh. My God, don’t be far from me.

World English Bible · Public Domain

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Don’t forsake me, Yahweh. My God, don’t be far from me.

  • KJV King James Version

    Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.

  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    (38-22) Forsake me not, O LORD; O my God, be not far from me.

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Cross-references (5)

Passages linked to Psalms 38:21 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.

  • Psalms 22:19 But don’t be far off, Yahweh. You are my help. Hurry to help me!
  • Psalms 22:24 For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, Neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard.
  • Psalms 22:11 Don’t be far from me, for trouble is near. For there is no one to help.
  • Psalms 35:21-22 Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!” You have seen it, Yahweh. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.
  • Psalms 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

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Explain this verse (10 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain In these concluding verses, David briefly states the chief…

In these concluding verses, David briefly states the chief point which he desired, and the sum of his whole prayer; namely, that whereas he was forsaken of men, and grievously afflicted in every way, God would receive him and raise him up again. He uses three forms of expression; first, that God would not forsake him, or cease to take care of him; secondly, that he would not be far from him; and, thirdly, that he would make haste to help him. David was, indeed, persuaded that God is always near to his servants, and that he delays not a single moment longer than is necessary. But, as we have seen in another place, it is not at all wonderful that the saints, when they unburden themselves of their cares and sorrows into the bosom of God, should make their requests in language according to the feeling of the flesh. They are not ashamed to confess their infirmity, nor is it proper to conceal the doubts which arise in their minds. Although, however, waiting was wearisome to David according to the flesh, yet in one word he plainly shows that he did not pray in uncertainty when he calls God his salvation, or the author of his salvation. Some render it to my salvation, but this is forced. David rather sets up this as a wall of defense against all the devices by which, as we have seen, his faith was assailed, That whatever might happen, he was, nevertheless, well assured of his salvation in God.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Psa 38:21 Forsake me not, O LORD: O my…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Make haste and help me,.... Or, "for my help";…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 21. Forsake me not, O Lord] Though all…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Forsake me not, O Lord - That is, Do…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain (Compare Psa 22:19; Psa 35:3). All terms of frequent…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 21. Cp. Psa_22:1; Psa_10:1.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Forsake me not, O Lord. (comp. Psa_27:9 Psa_71:9:18 Psa_119:8)…
Charles H. Spurgeon 1885 · Public Domain Ver. 21. Forsake me not, O Lord. Now is…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Do not abandon me ... do not stay far…

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