Psalm 6 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 6[a]

For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style;[b] a psalm of David.

6 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger.
Do not discipline me in your raging fury.[c]
2 Have mercy on me,[d] Lord, for I am frail.
Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking.[e]
3 I am absolutely terrified,[f]
and you, Lord—how long will this continue?[g]
4 Relent, Lord, rescue me![h]
Deliver me because of your faithfulness.[i]
5 For no one remembers you in the realm of death.[j]
In Sheol who gives you thanks?[k]
6 I am exhausted as I groan.
All night long I drench my bed in tears;[l]
my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.[m]
7 My eyes[n] grow dim[o] from suffering;
they grow weak[p] because of all my enemies.[q]
8 Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly,[r]
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.[s]
9 The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy;
the Lord has accepted[t] my prayer.
10 They will be humiliated[u] and absolutely terrified.[v]
All my enemies will turn back and be suddenly humiliated.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 6:1 sn Psalm 6. The psalmist begs the Lord to withdraw his anger and spare his life. Having received a positive response to his prayer, the psalmist then confronts his enemies and describes how they retreat.
  2. Psalm 6:1 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term שְׁמִינִית (sheminit, “sheminith”) is uncertain; perhaps it refers to a particular style of music. See 1 Chr 15:21.
  3. Psalm 6:1 sn The implication is that the psalmist has sinned, causing God to discipline him by bringing a life-threatening illness upon him (see vv. 2-7).
  4. Psalm 6:2 tn Or “show me favor.”
  5. Psalm 6:2 tn Normally the verb בָּהַל (bahal) refers to an emotional response and means “tremble with fear, be terrified” (see vv. 3, 10). Perhaps here the “bones” are viewed as the seat of the psalmist’s emotions. However, the verb may describe one of the effects of his physical ailment, perhaps a fever. In Ezek 7:27 the verb describes how the hands of the people will shake with fear when they experience the horrors of divine judgment.
  6. Psalm 6:3 tn Heb “my being is very terrified.” The suffixed form of נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “being”) is often equivalent to a pronoun in poetic texts.
  7. Psalm 6:3 tn Heb “and you, Lord, how long?” The suffering psalmist speaks in broken syntax. He addresses God, but then simply cries out with a brief, but poignant, question: How long will this (= his suffering) continue?
  8. Psalm 6:4 tn Heb “my being,” or “my life.” The suffixed form of נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “being”) is often equivalent to a pronoun in poetic texts.
  9. Psalm 6:4 sn Deliver me because of your faithfulness. Though the psalmist is experiencing divine discipline, he realizes that God has made a commitment to him in the past, so he appeals to God’s faithfulness in his request for help.
  10. Psalm 6:5 tn Heb “for there is not in death your remembrance.” The Hebrew noun זֵכֶר (zekher, “remembrance”) here refers to the name of the Lord as invoked in liturgy and praise. Cf. Pss 30:4; 97:12. “Death” here refers to the realm of death where the dead reside. See the reference to Sheol in the next line.
  11. Psalm 6:5 tn The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.”sn In Sheol who gives you thanks? According to the OT, those who descend into the realm of death/Sheol are cut off from God’s mighty deeds and from the worshiping covenant community that experiences divine intervention (Pss 30:9; 88:10-12; Isa 38:18). In his effort to elicit a positive divine response, the psalmist reminds God that he will receive no praise or glory if he allows the psalmist to die. Dead men do not praise God!
  12. Psalm 6:6 tn Heb “I cause to swim through all the night my bed.”
  13. Psalm 6:6 tn Heb “with my tears my bed I flood/melt.”
  14. Psalm 6:7 tn The Hebrew text has the singular “eye” here.
  15. Psalm 6:7 tn Or perhaps, “are swollen.”
  16. Psalm 6:7 tn Or perhaps, “grow old.”
  17. Psalm 6:7 sn In his weakened condition the psalmist is vulnerable to the taunts and threats of his enemies.
  18. Psalm 6:8 tn Heb “all [you] workers of wickedness.” See Ps 5:5.
  19. Psalm 6:8 sn The Lord has heard. The psalmist’s mood abruptly changes because the Lord responded positively to the lament and petition of vv. 1-7 and promised him deliverance.
  20. Psalm 6:9 tn The prefixed verbal form is probably a preterite here; it is parallel to a perfect and refers to the fact that the Lord has responded favorably to the psalmist’s request.
  21. Psalm 6:10 tn In the structure of the Psalm, this verse is either another petition or a statement of confidence. If a petition, the four prefixed verbal forms in this verse should be understood as jussives. By form, many prefixed verbs can be either imperfect or jussive. But the third verb in the series, יָשֻׁבוּ (yashuvu), can be distinguished as an imperfect by its qibbuts theme vowel, and is not a jussive (which would have had a qamets hatuph or holem). Expecting all four verbs to be the same due to parallelism leads to the conclusion that this section is a statement of confidence, in which the imperfect verbs should be treated as future.
  22. Psalm 6:10 sn The psalmist uses the same expression in v. 3 to describe the terror he was experiencing. He is confident that the tables will be turned and his enemies will know what absolute terror feels like.

You Might Also Like:

Psalm 6 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

6 To the Overseer with stringed instruments, on the octave. -- A Psalm of David. O Jehovah, in Thine anger reprove me not, Nor in Thy fury chastise me. 2 Favour me, O Jehovah, for I [am] weak, Heal me, O Jehovah, For troubled have been my bones, 3 And my soul hath been troubled greatly, And Thou, O ...
Read More

Psalm 6 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

6 To the overcomer in psalms, the psalm of David, on the eighth. Lord, reprove thou not me in thy strong vengeance; neither chastise thou me in thine ire. (To the overcomer, in songs, the song of David, on the eighth. Lord, do not thou condemn me in thy fury; nor chastise thou me in thy anger.) 2 Lo...
Read More

Psalm 6 - World English Bible (WEB)

For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, upon the eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm by David.6 Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your anger, neither discipline me in your wrath.2 Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am faint. Yahweh, heal me, for my bones are troubled.3 My soul is also in great anguish. But ...
Read More

Psalm 6 - The Voice (VOICE)

Psalm 6For the worship leader. A song of David accompanied by the lyre.[a]1 O Eternal One, don’t punish me in Your anger or harshly correct me.2 Show me grace, Eternal God. I am completely undone. Bring me back together, Eternal One. Mend my shattered bones.3 My soul is drowning in darkness. How lon...
Read More

Psalm 6 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Prayer for MercyPsalm 61 For the music director, on the eight-string lyre, a psalm of David.2 Adonai, do not rebuke me in Your anger!Do not discipline me in Your wrath.3 Be gracious to me, Adonai, for I am weak.Heal me, Adonai—for my bones are shuddering with fear,4 as is my soul—and You, Adonai—how...
Read More

Psalm 6 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Prayer for Recovery from Grave IllnessTo the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.6 O Lord, rebuke me not in thy anger,nor chasten me in thy wrath.2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.3 My soul a...
Read More

Psalm 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Prayer for Recovery from Grave IllnessTo the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.6 O Lord, rebuke me not in thy anger, nor chasten me in thy wrath.2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.3 My soul ...
Read More

Psalm 6 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Psalm 6Prayer for Recovery from Grave IllnessTo the leader: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.1 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking wi...
Read More

Psalm 6 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Psalm 6Prayer for Recovery from Grave IllnessTo the leader: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.1 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking wi...
Read More

Psalm 6 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Psalm 6Prayer for Recovery from Grave IllnessTo the leader: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.1 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.(A)2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are shaking ...
Read More

Psalm 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 6For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by an eight-stringed instrument.[a]1 O Lord, don’t rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your rage.2 Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.3 I am sick at heart. How long, O Lord, u...
Read More

Psalm 6 - New Life Version (NLV)

Prayer for Help in Time of Trouble6 O Lord, do not speak sharp words to me in Your anger, or punish me when You are angry. 2 Be kind to me, O Lord, for I am weak. O Lord, heal me for my bones are shaken. 3 My soul is in great suffering. But You, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord. Set my soul fre...
Read More

Psalm 6 - New King James Version (NKJV)

A Prayer of Faith in Time of DistressTo the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. (A)On [a]an eight-stringed harp. A Psalm of David.6 O Lord, (B)do not rebuke me in Your anger,Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.2 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;O Lord, (C)heal me, for my bones are t...
Read More

Psalm 6 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Psalm 6[a]For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.3 My soul is in deep anguish. How long,...
Read More

Psalm 6 - New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 6[a]For the director of music. With stringed instruments. According to sheminith.[b] A psalm of David.1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger(A) or discipline me in your wrath.2 Have mercy on me,(B) Lord, for I am faint;(C) heal me,(D) Lord, for my bones are in agony.(E)3 My soul is in deep ang...
Read More

Psalm 6 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Psalm 6For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David to be played on stringed instruments.1 Lord, don’t correct me when you are angry. Don’t punish me when you are very angry.2 Lord, have mercy on me. I’m so weak. Lord, heal me. My body is full of pain.3 My soul is very trouble...
Read More

Psalm 6 - New English Translation (NET)

Psalm 6[a]For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style;[b] a psalm of David.6 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger.Do not discipline me in your raging fury.[c]2 Have mercy on me,[d] Lord, for I am frail.Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking.[e...
Read More