Psalms 38:17

“For I [am] ready to halt, etc.] Meaning either that there was a proneness in him to sin; (see <242010>Jeremiah 20:10); or that he was subject to affliction and adversity, as the same word is rendered in (<193515>Psalm 35:15); and the words are either a reason and argument used with the Lord, to hear and keep his foot from slipping, that so his enemies might not rejoice over him, and magnify themselves against him; as they would do should he fall into sin or into any calamity, both which he was liable to: or they are a reason why he was so calm and quiet under the ill usage he met with from friends and enemies, because he was “ready for halting”, or “prepared” f544 for it; he considered that…”

“For I am ready to halt - Margin, as in Hebrew, “for halting.” The word from which the word used here is derived means properly to lean on one side, and then to halt or limp. The meaning here is, that he was like one who was limping along, and who was ready to fall; that is, in the case here referred to, he felt that his strength was almost gone, and that he was in continual danger of falling into sin, or sinking under his accumulated burdens, and of thus giving occasion for all that his enemies said of him, or occasion for their triumphing over him. Men often have this feeling - that their sorrows are so great that they cannot hope to hold out much longer, and that if God does not interpose…”

“To halt - just falling into destruction. Before me - I am constantly sensible of thy just hand, and of my sins the cause of it. Psalms 38:18”

“38:17-20 No longer able to endure his suffering and teetering on the verge of collapse (cp. 15:5), the psalmist confesses his sin (see 32:5).”

“to halt: Heb. for halting, Psa 35:15 \*marg. Mic 4:6, Mic 4:7 sorrow: Psa 38:6, Psa 6:6, Psa 77:2, Psa 77:3; Isa 53:3-5 Psalms 38:18”