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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 psalm of David.

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 bed
and drench my couch every night.(K)
My eyes are swollen from grief;(L)
they 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. 6:2 Or sick

Psalm 6[a]

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger(A)
    or discipline me in your wrath.
Have mercy on me,(B) Lord, for I am faint;(C)
    heal me,(D) Lord, for my bones are in agony.(E)
My soul is in deep anguish.(F)
    How long,(G) Lord, how long?

Turn,(H) Lord, and deliver me;
    save me because of your unfailing love.(I)
Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
    Who praises you from the grave?(J)

I am worn out(K) from my groaning.(L)

All night long I flood my bed with weeping(M)
    and drench my couch with tears.(N)
My eyes grow weak(O) with sorrow;
    they fail because of all my foes.

Away from me,(P) all you who do evil,(Q)
    for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;(R)
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;(S)
    they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.(T)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 6:1 In Hebrew texts 6:1-10 is numbered 6:2-11.
  2. Psalm 6:1 Title: Probably a musical term