The Comfortless Couch of the Righteous One

This is the first of seven psalms, which are called the Penitential psalms. The others are: 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143. It seems that David was in the middle of some great bodily distress or illness, as well as being plagued by attacks from his enemies. There is no mention of sin on his part, but a realisation that it is God’s chastening he is experiencing. And it is in the throes of such an experience that he is convicted that God would answer his prayer for deliverance. Twice, in vv. 8 & 9, he declares, “The Lord hath heard.” He knew assuredly that God had received his prayer. This gives us a further lesson in learning how to pray, by coming to a solid persuasion that God has heard, and will answer.

Pastor Jeff O’ Neil

Psalm 6 – First Version (long metre)

¹LORD, in thy wrath rebuke me not;
Nor in thy hot rage chasten me.
²LORD, pity me, for I am weak:
Heal me, for my bones vexed be.

³My soul is also vexed sore;
But, LORD, how long stay wilt thou make?
⁴Return, O LORD, my soul set free;
O save me, for thy mercies’ sake.

⁵Because those that deceased are
Of thee shall no remembrance have;
And who is he that will to thee
Give praises lying in the grave?

⁶I with my groaning weary am,
I also all the night my bed
Have caused for to swim; and I
With tears my couch have watered.

⁷Mine eye, consum’d with grief, grows old,
Because of all mine enemies.
⁸Hence from me, wicked workers all;
For GOD hath heard my weeping cries.

⁹GOD hath my supplication heard,
My pray’r received graciously
¹⁰Sham’d and sore vex’d be all my foes,
Sham’d and back turned suddenly.