Psalms — Chapter 6

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1O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

3My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?

4Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.

5For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

6I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

7Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

8Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.

9The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.

10Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

1O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger, Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

2Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah; for I am withered away: O Jehovah, heal me; for my bones are troubled.

3My soul also is sore troubled: And thou, O Jehovah, how long?

4Return, O Jehovah, deliver my soul: Save me for thy lovingkindness` sake.

5For in death there is no remembrance of thee: In Sheol who shall give thee thanks?

6I am weary with my groaning; Every night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

7Mine eye wasteth away because of grief; It waxeth old because of all mine adversaries.

8Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; For Jehovah hath heard the voice of my weeping.

9Jehovah hath heard my supplication; Jehovah will receive my prayer.

10All mine enemies shall be put to shame and sore troubled: They shall turn back, they shall be put to shame suddenly. Psalm 7 Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto Jehova, concerning the words of Cush a Benjamite.

1For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David. Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger. Do not discipline me in your raging fury.

2Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking.

3I am absolutely terrified, and you, Lord—how long will this continue?

4Relent, Lord, rescue me! Deliver me because of your faithfulness.

5For no one remembers you in the realm of death. In Sheol who gives you thanks?

6I am exhausted as I groan. All night long I drench my bed in tears; my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.

7My eyes grow dim from suffering; they grow weak because of all my enemies.

8Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.

9The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy; the Lord has accepted my prayer.

10They will be humiliated and absolutely terrified. All my enemies will turn back and be suddenly humiliated.

1Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your anger, neither discipline me in your wrath.

2Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am faint. Yahweh, heal me, for my bones are troubled.

3My soul is also in great anguish. But you, Yahweh—how long?

4Return, Yahweh. Deliver my soul, and save me for your loving kindness’ sake.

5For in death there is no memory of you. In Sheol, who shall give you thanks?

6I am weary with my groaning. Every night I flood my bed. I drench my couch with my tears.

7My eye wastes away because of grief. It grows old because of all my adversaries.

8Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for Yahweh has heard the voice of my weeping.

9Yahweh has heard my supplication. Yahweh accepts my prayer.

10May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed. They shall turn back, they shall be disgraced suddenly.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

A penitential lament — David pleads with God not to rebuke him in anger, weeping through the night on his sickbed, yet ends with sudden confidence that the LORD has heard his weeping.

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Individual Lament / Penitential Psalm (1st of 7) Attributed Author: David — "To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David" Key Themes: Suffering under divine discipline, physical and emotional anguish, tears, prayer heard, sudden confidence, enemies put to shame
Historical Context: Psalm 6 is the first of the seven traditional "Penitential Psalms" (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) used by the church throughout history for confession and repentance. "Sheminith" = "the eighth" — likely an octave lower pitch or an eight-stringed instrument. David is suffering physically (bones vexed), emotionally (soul troubled), and relationally (enemies surrounding). He does not deny that God's discipline may be deserved, but asks that it be tempered with mercy rather than administered in wrath. The dramatic pivot at v.8 — from weeping to commanding enemies to depart — suggests a moment of assurance mid-prayer where David knows God has heard.
Structure:
  • Plea for Mercy Under Discipline (vv.1-3)
  • Appeal to God's Character (vv.4-5)
  • Description of Anguish (vv.6-7)
  • Sudden Confidence (vv.8-10)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Videos

The Bible Project — Psalms Overview

Reflection

  • 1. It is right to ask God to temper discipline (v.1). David does not reject correction — he asks it come from love rather than wrath. You may ask God for mercy even when you know you deserve rebuke. A child can ask, "Please be gentle" without denying the Father's right.
  • 2. "How long?" is a legitimate prayer (v.3). The unfinished question is the most honest prayer of suffering. You do not need to complete the sentence. God knows what you are asking.
  • 3. Tears are heard by God (v.8). David's breakthrough came not from eloquent theology but from the "voice of my weeping." God hears tears as clearly as words. Sometimes tears ARE the prayer.
  • 4. Assurance can come suddenly (v.8). The shift from v.7 to v.8 is instantaneous. One moment David is weeping; the next he is commanding enemies to depart. The Spirit can bring confidence in a moment — mid-prayer, mid-tears, mid-crisis.
  • 5. Suffering is not sanitized in Scripture (v.6). The Bible does not present faith as emotional numbness. David floods his bed with tears, his eye wastes away from grief — and none of this disqualifies him before God. Bring your whole self.