Psalms
Chapter 6
David is sick and worn out, and he begs God to stop being angry with him and to heal him instead. He describes crying all night long and asks how much longer this will last. At the end he says God has heard him, and he tells the people trying to hurt him to go away.
Plain reading written for preteens. Clear and complete, at about a fifth grade reading level.
O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
1LORD, please don't correct me while you are angry. Don't punish me while you are furious with me.
2Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
2Be kind to me, LORD, because I am weak. Heal me, LORD, because my bones ache with pain.
"My bones are vexed" in the King James Version does not mean annoyed. It means his bones are in real pain.
3My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?
3I hurt deep inside too. LORD, how much longer must I wait?
4Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.
4Come back to me, LORD, and rescue me. Save me because you love me so faithfully.
5For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
5Dead people cannot talk about you. No one in the grave can thank you.
6I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
6I am worn out from crying. Every night I soak my bed. My tears make my pillow wet.
7Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.
7My eyes are red and worn out from so much sadness. My enemies have made them weak.
"Waxeth old" means grows weak or worn out, the way an old thing wears down. It is not about his age.
8Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
8Get away from me, all of you who do evil. The LORD has heard me crying.
9The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
9The LORD has heard me beg for help. The LORD will accept my prayer.
10Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.
10All my enemies will be ashamed and shaken. They will turn away, suddenly disgraced.
← → to turn the page · P for plain English · click a verse to sit with it