6:1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger!
Do not discipline me in your raging fury!
6:2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail!
Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking!
6:3 I am absolutely terrified,
and you, Lord – how long will this continue?
6:4 Relent, Lord, rescue me!
Deliver me because of your faithfulness!
Fear is a common emotion and a common human condition; out of such fear — “frail” and “shaking” and “terrified” and wondering “how long will this continue?” Some are afraid for health reasons; some are afraid because of economic woes; some are afraid because others are out to get them. In that situation, David enters into the presence of God and asks for grace. The extremities of the psalmist’s condition is clear: how long will this last? implies he can take it no longer. When you can take it no longer, here is a prayer to pray.
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For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David.
6:1 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger!
Do not discipline me in your raging fury!
6:2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail!
Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking!
6:3 I am absolutely terrified,
and you, Lord – how long will this continue?
6:4 Relent, Lord, rescue me!
Deliver me because of your faithfulness!
6:5 For no one remembers you in the realm of death,
In Sheol who gives you thanks?
6:6 I am exhausted as I groan;
all night long I drench my bed in tears;
my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.
6:7 My eyes grow dim from suffering;
they grow weak because of all my enemies.
6:8 Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly,
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping!
6:9 The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy;
the Lord has accepted my prayer.
6:10 May all my enemies be humiliated and absolutely terrified!
May they turn back and be suddenly humiliated!