The psalmist realizes his predicament, since it is his own sin, not God, that is ultimately responsible for his suffering. He must keep quiet and not say a word (verse 9a; see similar expressions in verse 2; 38.13). God punishes a man for his sins, and he is not to question God’s justice.

But he can ask God to stop punishing him (verse 10a), literally Remove thy stroke from me; the word stroke translates the same word which in 38.11 is translated “plague.”

In verse 10b the word translated blows occurs only here in the Old Testament; it is taken in the general sense of hostility (see Revised Standard Version footnote), but Anderson suggests that here it probably does mean “blow.” See similar ideas in 32.4a; 38.2b.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Reyburn, William D. A Handbook on the Book of Psalms. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1991. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .