Add parallel Print Page Options

Psalm 6

Prayer for Recovery from Grave Illness

To the leader: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.(A)
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
    O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.(B)
My soul also is struck with terror,
    while you, O Lord—how long?(C)

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

I am weary with my moaning;
    every night I flood my bed with tears;
    I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eyes waste away because of grief;
    they grow weak because of all my foes.(E)

Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
    for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.(F)
The Lord has heard my supplication;
    the Lord accepts my prayer.(G)
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;
    they shall turn back and in a moment be put to 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”