Psalms 6 (KJV)

Chapter Text

6:1 O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.

6:2 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

6:3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?

6:4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.

6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

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

6:7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

6:8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.

6:9 The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.

6:10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "mercy", "lord", "rebuke", "thine", "anger", "neither", "chasten", and "displeasure". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "mercy" and "lord", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The local KJV text gives this verse as the immediate unit, so "mercy" and "lord" carries the first interpretive weight. In The LORD as Shepherd, the local focus is trust, covenant mercy, guidance, and worship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "mercy" and "lord" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.