Psalms 6
6
# 6 Psalm 6 is a part of the daily prayer ritual of religious Jews. A Cry for Healing
For the Pure and Shining One
A song for stringed instruments, for the new day # 6 This is the Hebrew word sheminith. Although we cannot be certain, many scholars believe it to mean “eighth.” It could represent a harp with eight strings, an octave, the eighth division of singers, the eighth day, or the eighth month. Eight is the biblical number of a new beginning, a new day. Jewish rabbis have taught that the number eight is the number of the future messianic age when Messiah comes and makes all things new. by King David
How Long?
1Yahweh, don’t condemn me.
Don’t punish me in your fiery anger. # 6:1 David implied that he had sinned and needed forgiveness. This is the first of seven penitential psalms (32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143).
2Please deal gently with me, Yahweh;
show me mercy, for I’m sick and frail and weak.
Heal me, Yahweh, for I’m falling apart. # 6:2 Or “my bones are shaking.” Bones are often used metaphorically for our inner being.
3My soul is so troubled; but you,
Yahweh—how long? # 6:3 The Hebrew ends abruptly, with sudden silence and broken syntax. Words failed David, too broken to finish his sentence. This sudden silence is a figure of speech called aposiopesis.
Return to Me
4Yahweh, turn to me and rescue my life
because I know your faithful love will never fail me.
5In the darkness of death who remembers your name in worship?
How could I bring you praise if I’m buried in a tomb? # 6:5 Or “Sheol,” the realm of the dead. This is the first psalm to mention the grave (or Sheol). It is depicted in the poetic literature of the Hebrews as a vast wasteland, a stronghold of darkness, and a beast of prey.
Extreme Anguish
6I’m worn out with my weeping and groaning.
Night after night I soak my pillow with tears, # 6:6 Or “I cause my bed to swim with tears.” Our beds are frequently the washing place where the sheep are sheared (Song. 4:2). The bed was the place of David’s sin; it became the place of his weeping. Even as Adam sinned in a garden, Jesus wept in a garden over Adam’s sin.
and flood my bed with weeping.
7My eyes of faith # 6:7 The Hebrew is singular, “My eye;” a likely metaphor for the eye of his heart. David’s faith was growing weak. won’t focus anymore, for sorrow fills my heart.
There are so many enemies who come against me!
He Heard My Cry
8Turn from me, all you troublemakers! # 6:8 See Ps. 5:5; Matt. 7:23.
For Yahweh has turned to hear the sound of my weeping.
9Yes! Yahweh my healer has heard all my pleading
and has taken hold of my prayers # 6:9 Or “accepted my prayers.” The Hebrew word can mean “to grasp,” “to lay hold of,” “to marry,” or, figuratively, “to accept.” and answered them all.
10Now it’s my enemies who have been shamed.
Terror-stricken, they will turn back again, # 6:10 See Pss. 9:18; 31:8.
knowing the bitterness of sudden disgrace!
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Psalms 6: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 6
6
Prayer in Distress
1For the leader; with stringed instruments, “upon the eighth.”#Upon the eighth: apparently a musical notation, now lost.
A psalm of David.
I
2Do not reprove me in your anger, Lord,
nor punish me in your wrath.#Ps 38:2.
3Have pity on me, Lord, for I am weak;
heal me, Lord, for my bones are shuddering.#Jer 17:14–15.
4My soul too is shuddering greatly—
and you, Lord, how long…?#How long?: elliptical for “How long will it be before you answer my prayer?” cf. Ps 13:2–3.#Ps 13:2–3; 74:10; 89:47.
5Turn back, Lord, rescue my soul;
save me because of your mercy.
6For in death there is no remembrance of you.
Who praises you in Sheol?#A motive for God to preserve the psalmist from death: in the shadowy world of the dead no one offers you praise. Sheol is the biblical term for the underworld where the insubstantial souls of dead human beings dwelt. It was similar to the Hades of Greek and Latin literature. In the second century B.C., biblical books begin to speak positively of life with God after death (Dn 12:1–3; Wis 3).#Ps 30:10; 88:11; 115:17; Is 38:18.
II
7I am wearied with sighing;
all night long I drench my bed with tears;
I soak my couch with weeping.
8My eyes are dimmed with sorrow,
worn out because of all my foes.#Ps 31:10; 38:11; 40:13.
III
9Away from me, all who do evil!#Ps 119:115; Mt 7:23; Lk 13:27.
The Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
10The Lord has heard my plea;
the Lord will receive my prayer.
11My foes will all be disgraced and will shudder greatly;
they will turn back in sudden disgrace.#Ps 35:4, 26; 40:15; 71:13.
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