Psalm 38:10
New International Version
My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes.

New Living Translation
My heart beats wildly, my strength fails, and I am going blind.

English Standard Version
My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.

Berean Standard Bible
My heart pounds, my strength fails, and even the light of my eyes has faded.

King James Bible
My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

New King James Version
My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.

New American Standard Bible
My heart throbs, my strength fails me; And the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me.

NASB 1995
My heart throbs, my strength fails me; And the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me.

NASB 1977
My heart throbs, my strength fails me; And the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me.

Legacy Standard Bible
My heart throbs, my strength forsakes me; And the light of my eyes, even that has gone from me.

Amplified Bible
My heart throbs violently, my strength fails me; And as for the light of my eyes, even that has also gone from me.

Christian Standard Bible
My heart races, my strength leaves me, and even the light of my eyes has faded.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
My heart races, my strength leaves me, and even the light of my eyes has faded.

American Standard Version
My heart throbbeth, my strength faileth me: As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

Contemporary English Version
My heart is beating fast. I feel weak all over, and my eyes are red.

English Revised Version
My heart throbbeth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My heart is pounding. I have lost my strength. Even the light of my eyes has left me.

Good News Translation
My heart is pounding, my strength is gone, and my eyes have lost their brightness.

International Standard Version
My heart pounds, my strength fails me, even the gleam in my eye is gone.

Majority Standard Bible
My heart pounds, my strength fails, and even the light of my eyes has faded.

NET Bible
My heart beats quickly; my strength leaves me; I can hardly see.

New Heart English Bible
My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.

Webster's Bible Translation
My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of my eyes, that also is gone from me.

World English Bible
My heart throbs. My strength fails me. As for the light of my eyes, it has also left me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
My heart [is] panting, my power has forsaken me, "" And the light of my eyes, "" Even they are not with me.

Young's Literal Translation
My heart is panting, my power hath forsaken me, And the light of mine eyes, Even they are not with me.

Smith's Literal Translation
O Jehovah, before thee all my desire, and my sighing was not hid from thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
My heart is troubled, my strength hath left me, and the light of my eyes itself is not with me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
My heart has been disturbed. My strength has abandoned me, and the light of my eyes has abandoned me, and it is not with me.

New American Bible
My heart shudders, my strength forsakes me; the very light of my eyes has failed.

New Revised Standard Version
My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
My heart is broken, my strength hath failed me; as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
My heart is cast down and my power has left me, and the light of my eyes has not been with me.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
My heart fluttereth, my strength faileth me; As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
My heart is troubled, my strength has failed me; and the light of mine eyes is not with me.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Do Not Rebuke Me in Your Anger
9O Lord, my every desire is before You; my groaning is not hidden from You. 10My heart pounds, my strength fails, and even the light of my eyes has faded. 11My beloved and friends shun my disease, and my kinsmen stand at a distance.…

Cross References
Psalm 6:6-7
I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. / My eyes fail from grief; they grow dim because of all my foes.

Psalm 31:9-10
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well. / For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.

Psalm 69:3
I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

Psalm 102:4-5
My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread. / Through my loud groaning my skin hangs on my bones.

Psalm 143:4
My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.

Job 17:7
My eyes have grown dim with grief, and my whole body is but a shadow.

Lamentations 2:11
My eyes fail from weeping; I am churning within. My heart is poured out in grief over the destruction of the daughter of my people, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city.

Isaiah 38:14
I chirp like a swallow or crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak as I look upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.”

Jeremiah 45:3
You have said, ‘Woe is me because the LORD has added sorrow to my pain! I am worn out with groaning and have found no rest.’”

Habakkuk 3:16
I heard and trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us.

Matthew 26:38
Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

Mark 14:34
Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”

Luke 22:44
And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

John 12:27
Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour.

Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.


Treasury of Scripture

My heart pants, my strength fails me: as for the light of my eyes, it also is gone from me.

heart

Psalm 42:1
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

Psalm 119:81-83
CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word…

Psalm 143:4-7
Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate…

the light

Psalm 6:7
Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

Psalm 69:3
I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Psalm 88:9
Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

gone from [heb.

Jump to Previous
Eyes Faileth Fails Fluttereth Forsaken Goes Heart Light Pain Panteth Panting Pounds Power Strength Wasting
Jump to Next
Eyes Faileth Fails Fluttereth Forsaken Goes Heart Light Pain Panteth Panting Pounds Power Strength Wasting
Psalm 38
1. David moves God to take compassion on his pitiful case














My heart pounds
The Hebrew word for "heart" here is "לֵב" (lev), which often represents the inner self, including emotions, thoughts, and will. In the context of this psalm, David is expressing a deep, visceral anxiety and distress. The pounding of the heart can be seen as a physical manifestation of his spiritual and emotional turmoil. Historically, the heart was considered the center of one's being, and its pounding signifies an overwhelming sense of fear or guilt. This phrase invites believers to reflect on the times when their own hearts have been troubled and to seek solace in God's presence.

my strength fails
The Hebrew word for "strength" is "כֹּחַ" (koach), which denotes physical power, capacity, or vigor. David's admission of failing strength is a poignant acknowledgment of human frailty. In the biblical narrative, strength is often associated with God's provision and support. When David's strength fails, it underscores his dependence on God. This phrase encourages Christians to recognize their own limitations and to rely on God's strength, as echoed in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

and even the light of my eyes has faded
The "light of my eyes" is a poetic expression found in Hebrew literature, often symbolizing life, vitality, and hope. The fading of this light suggests a deep sense of despair and loss. In ancient times, the eyes were considered windows to the soul, and their brightness was a sign of health and well-being. David's lament here is not just physical but also spiritual, indicating a dimming of hope and joy. This phrase serves as a reminder of the times when life's burdens seem to extinguish our inner light, urging believers to seek renewal through faith and the promises of God.

(10) Panteth.--Better, palpitates. The Hebrew word, like palpitate, expresses the beating of the heart, by its sound, secharchar.

Verse 10. - My heart panteth. This verse, which reverts to the bodily sufferings, seems a little out of place. But Hebrew poetry is not logical, and cares little for exact arrangement. Three more bodily troubles are noticed, of which this is the first - the heart "pants," i.e. throbs, or palpitates violently. My strength faileth me. The strength suddenly fails. As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. The sight swims, and is swallowed up in darkness (comp. Job 17:7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
My heart
לִבִּ֣י (lib·bî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

pounds,
סְ֭חַרְחַר (sə·ḥar·ḥar)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5503: To go around or about, travel about

my strength
כֹחִ֑י (ḵō·ḥî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3581: A small reptile (of unknown species)

fails,
עֲזָבַ֣נִי (‘ă·zā·ḇa·nî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

and even
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

the light
וְֽאוֹר־ (wə·’ō·wr-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 216: Illumination, luminary

of my eyes
עֵינַ֥י (‘ê·nay)
Noun - cdc | first person common singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

has faded.
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle


Links
Psalm 38:10 NIV
Psalm 38:10 NLT
Psalm 38:10 ESV
Psalm 38:10 NASB
Psalm 38:10 KJV

Psalm 38:10 BibleApps.com
Psalm 38:10 Biblia Paralela
Psalm 38:10 Chinese Bible
Psalm 38:10 French Bible
Psalm 38:10 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Psalm 38:10 My heart throbs (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 38:9
Top of Page
Top of Page