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To the Director: With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp.[a] A Davidic Psalm

A Prayer in Times of Trouble

Lord, in your anger, do not rebuke me;
    in your wrath, do not discipline me.
Be gracious to me, Lord,
    because I am fading away.
Heal me,
    because my body[b] is distressed.
And my soul[c] is deeply distressed.
    But you, Lord, how long do I wait?[d]

Return, Lord,
    save my life!
        Deliver me, because of your gracious love.
In death, there is no memory of you.
    Who will give you thanks where the dead are?[e]

I am weary from my groaning.
    Every night my couch is drenched with tears,
        my bed is soaked through.
My eyesight has faded because of grief,
    it has dimmed because of all my enemies.

Get away from me, all of you who practice evil,
    for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord receives my prayer.
10 As for all my enemies, they will be put to shame;
    they will be greatly frightened
        and suddenly turn away ashamed.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 6:1 Or On a lower octave
  2. Psalm 6:2 Or bones
  3. Psalm 6:3 Or And I am
  4. Psalm 6:3 The Heb. lacks do I wait
  5. Psalm 6:5 Lit. thanks in Sheol; a reference to the realm of the dead