For I said, “Don’t let them gloat over me, or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.”
Parallel translations
- KJV For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
- BSB For I said, “Let them not gloat over me—those who taunt me when my foot slips.”
- NKJV For I said, “Hear me, lest they rejoice over me, Lest, when my foot slips, they exalt themselves against me.”
- NASB For I said, “May they not rejoice over me, Who, when my foot slips, would exalt themselves over me.”
- NLT I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me or rejoice at my downfall.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David prays that his enemies not be allowed to gloat over his stumbling. He fears his fall would dishonor God and embolden the wicked.
Overview
His concern is not merely personal but that the mockery of foes would seem to triumph over the righteous cause. He commits his reputation and standing to God's care. The believer rightly prays that God's name not be reproached through his weakness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Deut 32:35Vengeance is mine, and recompense, at the time when their foot slides; for the day of their calamity is at hand. Their doom rushes at them.”
- Ps 94:18When I said, “My foot is slipping!” Your loving kindness, Yahweh, held me up.
- Ps 35:24–26Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me.
- Ps 13:3–4Behold, and answer me, Yahweh, my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 38:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.