Psalms 6

To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, set [possibly] an octave below. A Psalm of David.

¹O Lord, do not rebuke or punish me in Your anger, Nor discipline me in Your wrath. ²Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak (faint, frail); Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed and anguished. ³My soul [as well as my body] is greatly dismayed. But as for You, O Lord—how long [until You act on my behalf]? ⁴¶Return, O Lord, rescue my soul; Save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy. ⁵For in death there is no mention of You; In Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) who will praise You and give You thanks? ⁶¶I am weary with my groaning; Every night I soak my bed with tears, I drench my couch with my weeping. ⁷My eye grows dim with grief; It grows old because of all my enemies. ⁸¶Depart from me, all you who do evil, For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping. [Matt 7:23; Luke 13:27] ⁹The Lord has heard my supplication [my plea for grace]; The Lord receives my prayer. ¹⁰Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly horrified; Let them turn back, let them suddenly be ashamed [of what they have done].