Psalm chapter 6
English Standard Version
1O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. 2Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. 3My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord — how long? 4Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. 5For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? 6I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. 7My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes. 8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 9The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. 10All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.
New International Version
1For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith. A psalm of David. Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 2Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.
3My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? 4Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
7My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. 8Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. 9The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. 10All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.
New American Standard Bible
1 Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor discipline me in Your wrath. 2Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am frail; Heal me, Lord, for my bones are horrified. 3And my soul is greatly horrified; But You, Lord—how long? 4Return, Lord, rescue my soul; Save me because of Your mercy. 5For there is no mention of You in death; In Sheol, who will praise You? 6I am weary with my sighing; Every night I make my bed swim, I flood my couch with my tears. 7My eye has wasted away with grief; It has grown old because of all my enemies. 8Leave me, all you who practice injustice, For the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 9The Lord has heard my pleading, The Lord receives my prayer. 10All my enemies will be put to shame and greatly horrified; They shall turn back, they will suddenly be put to shame.
Christian Standard Bible
1For the choir director: with stringed instruments, according to Sheminith. A psalm of David. Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger; do not discipline me in your wrath. 2Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am weak; heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking;
3my whole being is shaken with terror. And you, Lord —how long? 4Turn, Lord! Rescue me; save me because of your faithful love.
5For there is no remembrance of you in death; who can thank you in Sheol? 6I am weary from my groaning; with my tears I dampen my bed and drench my couch every night.
7My eyes are swollen from grief; they grow old because of all my enemies. 8Depart from me, all evildoers, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 9The Lord has heard my plea for help; the Lord accepts my prayer. 10All my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror; they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced.
New Living Translation
1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage. 2Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. 3I am sick at heart. How long, O Lord, until you restore me?
4Return, O Lord, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love. 5For the dead do not remember you. Who can praise you from the grave?
King James Version
New King James Version
1{To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.} O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure. 2Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. 3My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O Lord—how long? 4Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! 5 For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks? 6I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. 7 My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies. 8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. 9The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer. 10Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.
What does Psalm chapter 6 mean?
Seven psalms are labelled as "penitential" for their intense focus on repentance from sin. These are Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143. This example does not give details, so we're not sure exactly what David is repenting for. What's clear is that he connects this specific instance of physical suffering—possibly some illness—to God's discipline (Psalm 6:1–3).The situation is dire enough that David fears for his life. At least some of his concern is related to his enemies. This might refer to Philistines (1 Samuel 21:10–13), king Saul (1 Samuel 19:2), or his rebellious son, Absalom (Psalm 3). David pleads with God to spare him, pointing out that a dead body does not worship or praise (Psalm 6:4–5).
Despite a period of fear and despair (Psalm 6:6–7), David resolves that God will rescue him. He warns his enemies to flee, knowing that the Lord has heard him and will respond (Psalm 6:8–10).
