Add parallel Print Page Options

A Prayer for Mercy in Troubled Times

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Upon the sheminith. A psalm of David.

Lord, don’t correct me when you are angry;
    don’t punish me when you are very angry.
Lord, have mercy on me because I am weak.
    Heal me, Lord, because my bones ache.
I am very upset.
    Lord, how long will it be?

Lord, return and save me;
    save me because of your kindness.
Dead people don’t remember you;
    those in the grave don’t praise you.

I am tired of crying to you.
    Every night my bed is wet with tears;
    my bed is soaked from my crying.
My eyes are weak from so much crying;
    they are weak from crying about my enemies.

Get away from me, all you who do evil,
    because the Lord has heard my crying.
The Lord has heard my cry for help;
    the Lord will answer my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be ashamed and troubled.
    They will turn and suddenly leave in shame.

An Appeal for Forgiveness and Deliverance

For the music director; with stringed instruments, on the Sheminith.[a]

A psalm of David.[b]

O Yahweh, do not rebuke me in your anger,
and do not discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O Yahweh, because I am feeble.
Heal me, O Yahweh, for my bones are terrified.
My soul is also very terrified.
But you, O Yahweh, how long?
Turn, O Yahweh; deliver my life.[c]
Save me for the sake of your steadfast love.[d]
For there is no remembrance of you in death.
In Sheol, who will give thanks to you?
I am weary with my groaning;
I flood[e] my bed every night.
With my tears I drench[f] my couch.
My eye wastes away because of vexation;
it grows old because of all my oppressors.
Depart from me, all workers of evil,
for Yahweh has heard the sound of my weeping.
Yahweh has heard my plea;
Yahweh has accepted my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and shall be very terrified.
They shall turn back; they shall suddenly be ashamed.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 6:1 Hebrew “upon the eighth”; meaning uncertain
  2. Psalm 6:1 The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
  3. Psalm 6:4 Or “my soul”; same word as in v. 3
  4. Psalm 6:4 Or “loyal love”
  5. Psalm 6:6 Literally “I make my bed float”
  6. Psalm 6:6 Literally “I cause to melt”