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

20 The Lord is ready to save me;
we will play stringed instruments
all the days of our lives
at the house of the Lord.(A)

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20 The Lord will save me,
    and we will sing(A) with stringed instruments(B)
all the days of our lives(C)
    in the temple(D) of the Lord.

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19 The Lord my Lord is my strength;(A)
he makes my feet like those of a deer(B)
and enables me to walk on mountain heights!(C)

For the choir director: on[a] stringed instruments.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:19 Lit on my

19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength;(A)
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.(B)

For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.

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