Psalms 6: Weeping Turned to Assurance
A night of tears that ends with God hearing David's cry.
This is the first of the penitential psalms, following Psalms 5, in which David asks the LORD not to rebuke him in anger but to heal his vexed bones and weary soul. He pictures himself flooding his bed with tears each night from grief and exhausted groaning.
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.
Favour me, O Jehovah, for I `am' weak, Heal me, O Jehovah, For troubled have been my bones,
And my soul hath been troubled greatly, And Thou, O Jehovah, till when?
Turn back, O Jehovah, draw out my soul, Save me for Thy kindness' sake.
For there is not in death Thy memorial, In Sheol, who doth give thanks to Thee?
I have been weary with my sighing, I meditate through all the night `on' my bed, With my tear my couch I waste.
Old from provocation is mine eye, It is old because of all mine adversaries,
Turn from me all ye workers of iniquity, For Jehovah heard the voice of my weeping,
Jehovah hath heard my supplication, Jehovah my prayer receiveth.
Ashamed and troubled greatly are all mine enemies, They turn back -- ashamed `in' a moment!