Psalms 38:1Yahweh, don't rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.
The setting
Ancient Israel, possibly after David's adultery with Bathsheba. A broken king facing consequences...
The emotion here: terror at facing holy God's wrath
The original word
ḥēmāh (חֵמָה) — burning anger, wrath hot like a furnace
Why it matters
This is one of seven 'penitential psalms' traditionally used during Lent for confession
Read with care
What most readers miss in Psalms 38:1
David isn't asking to avoid consequences - he's asking for mercy in HOW God disciplines him
Common misconceptionPeople think this shows an angry God, but David is actually demonstrating that we CAN appeal to God's mercy even when we deserve punishment.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Psalms 38:1
Bible Genome reading
Psalms 38:1 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Psalms 38:1 comes from the book of Psalms, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to David. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the psalm genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine discipline, confession, mercy plea. Notable phrases: don't rebuke me; in your wrath; hot displeasure. This verse is a prayer.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does Psalms 38:1 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "anxious"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.