Psalms 38:17

KJV

For I [am] ready to halt, and my sorrow [is] continually before me.

KJV (with Strong's)

For I am ready {H3559} to halt {H6761}, and my sorrow {H4341} is continually {H8548} before me.

Complete Jewish Bible

For I am about to fall, and my pain is always with me.

Berean Standard Bible

For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

American Standard Version

For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 38:17 encapsulates King David's profound vulnerability and unceasing distress, articulating his feeling of being on the precipice of collapse. Amidst physical ailments, social abandonment, and the relentless attacks of his adversaries, David expresses a deep, pervasive sorrow that constantly afflicts him. This verse serves as a raw and poignant confession of human frailty in the face of overwhelming suffering, underscoring his desperate need for divine intervention and mercy in the face of overwhelming odds.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 38 is one of the seven penitential psalms, a heartfelt lament where David expresses deep contrition for sin and pleads for God's mercy and healing. The psalm opens with David's confession of God's disciplinary hand upon him, leading to severe physical illness and internal turmoil, as described in [Psalm 38:1-8](/psalms/38-1-8 "Psalm 38:1-8 - David's Suffering and Confession"). He then laments the abandonment by his friends and loved ones, who stand aloof from his suffering, a painful reality explored in [Psalm 38:11-12](/psalms/38-11-12 "Psalm 38:11-12 - Friends and Loved Ones Stand Aloof"), and the malicious pursuit of his enemies who seek his downfall, detailed in [Psalm 38:19-20](/psalms/38-19-20 "Psalm 38:19-20 - Enemies Seek David's Harm"). Verse 17, "For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me," serves as a powerful summary of his desperate state, articulating his feeling of being on the brink of collapse, with his sorrow as an unceasing companion. This backdrop of intense personal suffering, spiritual introspection, and external opposition is crucial for understanding the depth of David's plea for divine aid, which culminates in his final cry for God not to forsake him in [Psalm 38:21-22](/psalms/38-21-22 "Psalm 38:21-22 - David's Earnest Plea for Help").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Traditionally attributed to King David, Psalm 38 likely reflects a period of intense personal crisis, possibly involving severe illness and significant political or social opposition. In ancient Israel, illness was often, though not exclusively, perceived as a consequence of sin or divine judgment, as evidenced in passages like [Deuteronomy 28:58-61](/deuteronomy/28-58-61 "Deuteronomy 28:58-61 - Curses for Disobedience"). David's acknowledgment of his sin in this psalm fits within this cultural understanding, though it's vital to avoid a simplistic cause-and-effect theology for all suffering. As a king, David's public suffering and perceived weakness would have been particularly humiliating, potentially emboldening his adversaries and causing his allies to distance themselves. The cultural emphasis on honor and shame would have amplified his distress, making the abandonment by friends especially painful. The psalm, therefore, provides a window into the personal anguish of a leader who, despite his status, was utterly dependent on God amidst a confluence of physical, emotional, and social afflictions.
* **Key Themes:** This verse, within the broader context of Psalm 38, contributes to several overarching themes. Firstly, it highlights the **Profound Vulnerability of Humanity**, even for a powerful king like David, demonstrating that all individuals are susceptible to physical decay and emotional distress, underscoring our inherent dependence on God. Secondly, it explores the **Intertwined Nature of Sin and Suffering**, as David connects his affliction to his iniquity, prompting deep repentance and a plea for divine mercy. Thirdly, the psalm vividly portrays the **Pain of Betrayal and Isolation**, as David's friends and loved ones abandon him in his time of need, compounding his sorrow. Lastly, despite the overwhelming despair expressed in verse 17, the psalm ultimately points to **Hope and Trust in God Alone**. Even when feeling utterly "ready to halt" and consumed by "sorrow continually before me," David's ultimate recourse is to the Lord, articulating his helplessness before Him and anticipating His deliverance, a theme common in the psalms of lament, as seen in [Psalm 130:5-6](/psalms/130-5-6 "Psalm 130:5-6 - Waiting for the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ready (Hebrew, _kûwn'_):** From a root meaning "to be erect" or "to set up," this word, in its various applications, can mean to establish, fix, prepare, or make ready. Here, in the context of David's lament, it carries a poignant irony. While _kûwn_ often implies being firmly established or prepared, David uses it to express the opposite: he is "ready" not to stand firm, but to collapse. His readiness is for failure, for a fall, for giving way under the immense pressure of his suffering, signifying a complete lack of stability or preparedness to endure.
* **Halt (Hebrew, _tselaʻ'_):** This term literally means "a limping" or "a stumble." Figuratively, it denotes adversity or a fall. In this verse, it powerfully conveys David's feeling of being on the verge of falling, giving way, or completely collapsing. It signifies a profound physical weakness, instability, or spiritual exhaustion, where he feels incapable of standing firm or enduring any further. It paints a picture of precariousness, as if his very foundation is crumbling, suggesting that he is barely able to stand, on the verge of a complete breakdown.
* **Sorrow (Hebrew, _makʼôb'_):** This is a strong term denoting intense pain, suffering, or grief, often associated with physical affliction or deep emotional anguish. Its usage here, coupled with the adverb "continually," emphasizes the relentless, pervasive, and unceasing nature of David's distress. It is not a fleeting sadness but an ever-present burden that dominates his thoughts, experiences, and perception, making it an inescapable reality that he cannot escape or ignore.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For I [am] ready to halt":** This clause reveals David's profound sense of imminent collapse. The phrase suggests a state of extreme physical weakness, perhaps from illness, or a deep emotional and spiritual exhaustion that leaves him feeling unstable and unable to stand upright or continue his path. He perceives himself as being at the very brink of stumbling or falling completely, signifying a loss of strength, stability, and resilience, indicating a complete inability to maintain his footing or composure.
* **"and my sorrow [is] continually before me":** This clause emphasizes the relentless and pervasive nature of David's distress. His "sorrow" (intense pain or grief) is not an an occasional visitor but an ever-present companion, constantly in his view, dominating his thoughts and experiences. It implies that his suffering is not only profound but also unceasing, an inescapable reality that colors every moment of his existence, leaving him no respite, as if it were a shadow that never leaves his side.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 38:17 employs several literary devices to convey David's profound distress. The phrase "ready to halt" functions as a potent **Metaphor**, depicting David's physical and emotional state as being on the verge of collapse, like a person whose legs are giving way or who is stumbling precariously. It vividly communicates his extreme weakness and instability without literally stating a physical fall. Furthermore, the declaration "my sorrow is continually before me" utilizes **Personification**, giving sorrow an almost tangible presence, as if it were an entity that stands directly in front of him, constantly visible and inescapable. This device intensifies the sense of an ever-present, oppressive burden. The use of "continually" also serves as a form of **Hyperbole** or **Intensification**, emphasizing the unrelenting and pervasive nature of his anguish, suggesting that there is no moment of relief from his pain. These devices collectively amplify the depth and constancy of David's suffering, making his lament profoundly relatable and emotionally resonant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 38:17 offers a profound theological insight into the human experience of suffering, even for those in covenant with God. It reminds us that profound weakness and persistent sorrow are not antithetical to faith but can be deeply integrated into the journey of a believer. David's raw honesty about being "ready to halt" and consumed by "continual sorrow" validates the reality of intense, prolonged distress. Theologically, it underscores humanity's inherent frailty and dependence on divine strength, even in the midst of a king's power. It also subtly points to God's sovereignty, as David attributes his suffering, in part, to God's hand (though not always directly punitive). Ultimately, the psalm, and this verse within it, serves as a model of lament, demonstrating that profound despair can coexist with a desperate, persistent turning to God for mercy and deliverance, acknowledging that true strength is found in God alone.

* [Psalm 42:11](/psalms/42-11 "Psalm 42:11 - Why are you cast down, O my soul?")
* [2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9 - My grace is sufficient for you")
* [1 Peter 5:7](/1_peter/5-7 "1 Peter 5:7 - Cast all your anxiety on him")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's candid admission in Psalm 38:17 grants us permission to acknowledge our own profound vulnerabilities and the relentless nature of our sorrows. In a world that often pressures us to project strength and composure, this verse reminds us that it is not only acceptable but spiritually healthy to confess our weakness and the burdens that weigh us down. Whether facing chronic illness, relational betrayal, persistent grief, or overwhelming anxiety, David's experience validates our own struggles, assuring us that we are not alone in feeling "ready to halt" or having "sorrow continually before us." His ultimate turning to God within this psalm encourages us to bring our most raw and desperate laments before the Lord, trusting that His strength is made perfect in our weakness and that He cares for us. It challenges us to find solace and strength not in our own resilience, but in the unwavering presence and compassion of God, even when the path ahead seems precarious and the pain unending.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically respond when you feel physically, emotionally, or spiritually "ready to halt" in your own life?**
* **In what ways might "sorrow be continually before you," and how does David's honesty in this verse validate your experience of persistent distress?**
* **What does David's vulnerability teach us about the nature of authentic prayer and our dependence on God in moments of extreme weakness?**

### FAQ
**Does Psalm 38:17 imply that all suffering is a direct result of personal sin?**

Answer: While David explicitly connects his suffering to his sin in other parts of Psalm 38 (e.g., [Psalm 38:3](/psalms/38-3 "Psalm 38:3 - No Soundness in My Bones Because of My Sin")), verse 17 itself focuses on the *experience* of his profound weakness and persistent sorrow. The psalm presents a complex picture where David's physical ailments and emotional distress are intertwined with his confession of sin, but also with the malicious actions of his enemies and the abandonment by his friends. Therefore, while David attributes *some* of his suffering to his iniquity, the verse primarily highlights the universal human experience of profound vulnerability and unceasing pain, regardless of its specific cause. The psalm encourages honest lament and turning to God in such states, rather than providing a simplistic cause-and-effect formula for all suffering.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 38:17, with David's cry of being "ready to halt" and having "my sorrow continually before me," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. David’s experience foreshadows the perfect Man of Sorrows, who truly bore the weight of human frailty and suffering. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was "sorrowful, even to death" ([Matthew 26:38](/matthew/26-38 "Matthew 26:38 - Jesus in Gethsemane")), feeling "ready to halt" as He contemplated the full cup of God's wrath against sin. His agony was so intense that He sweat drops of blood, a vivid portrayal of being on the verge of collapse. On the cross, the sorrow of the world, the weight of all sin, was "continually before Him" and upon Him, as He became sin for us ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). His cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), echoes David's lament, yet Jesus' suffering was not for His own sin but for ours. Through His complete "halting" and bearing of sorrow, Christ offers true rest and strength to all who are weary and heavy-laden ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")), transforming our moments of weakness into opportunities for His perfect strength to be revealed ([2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9 - God's Strength Perfected in Weakness")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 35:15

But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: [yea], the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:

Psalms 38:6

I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

Psalms 6:6

I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

Isaiah 53:3

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah 53:5

But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Micah 4:6

In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;

Micah 4:7

And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.