O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long?

Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.

For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.

10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

Prayer for Mercy in Time of Trouble.

To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, set [possibly] an octave below. A Psalm of David.

O Lord, do not rebuke or punish me in Your anger,
Nor discipline me in Your wrath.

Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak (faint, frail);
Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed and anguished.

My soul [as well as my body] is greatly dismayed.
But as for You, O Lord—how long [until You act on my behalf]?


Return, O Lord, rescue my soul;
Save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy.

For in death there is no mention of You;
In Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) who will praise You and give You thanks?


I am weary with my groaning;
Every night I soak my bed with tears,
I drench my couch with my weeping.

My eye grows dim with grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.


Depart from me, all you who do evil,
For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.(A)

The Lord has heard my supplication [my plea for grace];
The Lord receives my prayer.
10 
Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly horrified;
Let them turn back, let them suddenly be ashamed [of what they have done].

Psalm 6

For the music leader. On stringed instruments. According to the eighth.[a] A psalm of David.

Please, Lord,
    don’t punish me when you are angry;
    don’t discipline me when you are furious.
Have mercy on me, Lord,
    because I’m frail.
Heal me, Lord,
    because my bones are shaking in terror!
My whole body[b] is completely terrified!
        But you, Lord! How long will this last?
Come back to me, Lord! Deliver me!
    Save me for the sake of your faithful love!
No one is going to praise you
    when they are dead.
Who gives you thanks
    from the grave?[c]

I’m worn out from groaning.
    Every night, I drench my bed with tears;
    I soak my couch all the way through.
My vision fails because of my grief;
    it’s weak because of all my distress.
Get away from me, all you evildoers,
    because the Lord has heard me crying!
The Lord has listened to my request.
    The Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be ashamed
    and completely terrified;
    they will be defeated
    and ashamed instantly.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 6:1 Perhaps a reference to an eight-string instrument; also in Ps 12
  2. Psalm 6:3 Or soul; also in 6:4
  3. Psalm 6:5 Heb Sheol

(A psalm by David for the music leader. Use stringed instruments.[a])

A Prayer in Time of Trouble

(A) Don't punish me, Lord,
or even correct me
    when you are angry!
Have pity on me and heal
    my feeble body.
My bones tremble with fear,
and I am in deep distress.
    How long will it be?

Turn and come to my rescue.
Show your wonderful love
    and save me, Lord.
If I die, I cannot praise you
    or even remember you.
My groaning has worn me out.
At night my bed and pillow
    are soaked with tears.
Sorrow has made my eyes dim,
and my sight has failed
    because of my enemies.

(B) You, Lord, heard my crying,
and those hateful people
    had better leave me alone.
You have answered my prayer
    and my plea for mercy.
10 My enemies will be ashamed
    and terrified,
as they quickly run away
    in complete disgrace.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 6 instruments: The Hebrew text adds “according to the sheminith,” which may refer to a musical instrument with eight strings.