For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.
Parallel translations
- WEB For my iniquities have gone over my head. As a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.
- KJV For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
- NKJV For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
- NASB For my guilty deeds have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they weigh too much for me.
- NLT My guilt overwhelms me— it is a burden too heavy to bear.
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's iniquities have risen over his head like a flood and weigh on him like a burden too heavy to bear. Sin's load is crushing.
Overview
David pictures his guilt as overwhelming waters above his head and an unbearable weight pressing him down. Sin felt rightly is intolerable. This sense of an impossible burden prepares the heart for the gospel, where Christ invites the heavy-laden to come to Him for rest and bears the load of guilt we cannot carry (Matthew 11:28-30).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ps 40:12For evils without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, so that I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed within me.
- Ezra 9:6and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.
- Matt 11:28Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
- Lam 1:14My transgressions are bound into a yoke, knit together by His hand; they are draped over my neck, and the Lord has broken my strength. He has delivered me into the hands of those I cannot withstand.
- 1 Pet 2:24He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
- Isa 53:11After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.
- Lev 7:18If any of the meat from his peace offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted. It will not be credited to the one who presented it; it shall be an abomination, and the one who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 38:4 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.