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Psalms 6

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[1]David's complaint in his sickness. [8]By faith he triumpheth over his enemies.

To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Metrical version

Psalm 6

L.M. Saxony, Walsall, Dundee

LORD, in thy wrath rebuke me not;
Nor in thy hot rage chasten me.
LORD, pity me, for I am weak:
Heal me, for my bones vexed be.

My soul is also vexed sore;
But, LORD, how long stay wilt thou make?
Return, O LORD, my soul set free;
O save me, for thy mercies' sake.

Because those that deceased are
Of thee shall no remembrance have;
And who is he that will to thee
Give praises lying in the grave?

I with my groaning weary am,
I also all the night my bed
Have caused for to swim; and I
With tears my couch have watered.

Mine eye, consumed with grief, grows old,
Because of all mine enemies.
Hence from me, wicked workers all;
For GOD hath heard my weeping cries.

GOD hath my supplication heard,
My prayer received graciously.
Shamed and sore vexed be all my foes,
Shamed and back turned suddenly.
Here, (1.) The man according to God's heart, in the assured faith of God's hearing his prayers, and hating his sins, fixeth a daily, an early, an earnest, a steady, a grace-founded correspon dence with God, in his ordinances of meditation, prayer, praise, etc., ver. 1-7. (2.) Behold him humbly requesting God's special direction in duties which his enemies had rendered difficult to perform; supplicating and predicting the ruin of his implacable foes; and, in the assured faith of obtaining it, imploring comfort and prosperity to his fellow saints, ver. 8-12.


While I sing, let my heart and flesh cry out, and my soul pant and wait for the Lord. In the firm faith of infinite mercy to forgive all my crimes, and wash out all my sinful stains, let me blush at, and detest my own abominations. Let me cultivate the closest familiarity with the Lord my God. Let my prayers correspond with his promises, and with the particular condi tion of myself or others.

Psalm 6 (second version)

C.M. Saxony, Walsall, Dundee

In thy great indignation,
O LORD, rebuke me not;
Nor on me lay thy chastening hand
in thy displeasure hot.

LORD, I am weak, therefore on me
have mercy, and me spare:
Heal me, O LORD, because thou know'st
my bones much vexed are.

My soul is vexed sore: but, LORD,
how long stay wilt thou make?
Return, LORD, free my soul; and save
me for thy mercies' sake.

Because of thee in death there shall
no more remembrance be:
Of those that in the grave do lie,
who shall give thanks to thee?

I with my groaning weary am,
and all the night my bed
I caused for to swim; with tears
my couch I watered.

By reason of my vexing grief
mine eye consumed is;
It waxeth old, because of all
that be mine enemies.

But now, depart from me, all ye
that work iniquity:
For why? the LORD hath heard my voice,
when I did mourn and cry.

Unto my supplication
the LORD did hearing give:
When I to him my prayer make,
the LORD will it receive.

Let all be shamed and troubled sore,
that en'mies are to me;
Let them turn back, and suddenly
ashamed let them be.
Observe here, (1.) David, a great saint, under grievous and manifold troubles, sickness of body, conscience-felt charges of guilt, vexation of mind, attended with desertion from God, and contemptuous insults from his enemies, ver. 2, 3, 5, 7, 9. (2.) His supplications, with strong cries and tears, to God for mitigation of trouble, support under it, and deliverance from it, ver. 1, 4, 6. (3.) His triumphant separation of himself from the wicked, in the full assurance of faith, that God had heard, and would graciously grant his requests, and would either convert or destroy his opposers, ver. 8, 10.


In all my afflictions, let me believe that Jesus was afflicted for me. Let me call my sin to remembrance, spread my case before him, fill my mouth with arguments; implore his abundant, free, and sovereign mercy, as my sole and all-comprehensive relief. Nor let me ever expect a comfortable answer to my prayers, while I cultivate an intimacy with profane and wicked men.