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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

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].