O Lord, Deliver My Life

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to (A)The Sheminith.[a] A Psalm of David.

O Lord, (B)rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor (C)discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
    (D)heal me, O Lord, (E)for my bones are troubled.
My (F)soul also is greatly troubled.
    But you, O Lord(G)how long?

Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;
    save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
For in (H)death there is no remembrance of you;
    in Sheol who will give you praise?

I am (I)weary with my (J)moaning;
    every night I flood my bed with tears;
    I drench my couch with my weeping.
My (K)eye wastes away because of grief;
    it grows weak because of all my foes.

(L)Depart from me, all you (M)workers of evil,
    for the Lord (N)has heard the sound of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my (O)plea;
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
    they shall (P)turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 6:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term

Prayer for Mercy

Psalm 6

For the music director, on the eight-string lyre, a psalm of David.
Adonai, do not rebuke me in Your anger!
Do not discipline me in Your wrath.
Be gracious to me, Adonai, for I am weak.
Heal me, Adonai—for my bones are shuddering with fear,
as is my soul—
and You, Adonai—how long?
Turn toward me, Adonai, deliver my soul!
Save me—because of Your mercy.
For there is no memory of You in death,
in Sheol who will praise You?
I am worn out with my groaning.
Every night I make my bed swim,
drenching my pillow with my tears.
My eyes are weakened with grief—
they age because of my enemies.

Away from me, all you evildoers!
For Adonai heard the sound of my weeping.
10 Adonai has heard my cry for mercy.
Adonai accepts my prayer:
11 “May all my enemies be ashamed, and stricken with terror.
May they turn back in sudden disgrace.”