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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”

Psalm 6

A Prayer for Mercy

For the choir director: with stringed instruments, according to Sheminith.(A) A Davidic psalm.

Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger;
do not discipline me in Your wrath.(B)
Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am weak;[a](C)
heal me,(D) Lord, for my bones are shaking;(E)
my whole being is shaken with terror.(F)
And You, Lord—how long?(G)

Turn, Lord! Rescue me;
save me because of Your faithful love.(H)
For there is no remembrance of You in death;
who can thank You in Sheol?(I)

I am weary from my groaning;(J)
with my tears I dampen my pillow[b]
and drench my bed every night.(K)
My eyes are swollen from grief;(L)
they[c] grow old because of all my enemies.

Depart from me, all evildoers,
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.(M)
The Lord has heard my plea for help;(N)
the Lord accepts my prayer.(O)
10 All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror;
they will turn back(P) and suddenly be disgraced.(Q)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 6:2 Or sick
  2. Psalm 6:6 Lit bed
  3. Psalm 6:7 LXX, Aq, Sym, Jer read I