Psa 6 | EE | STEP | This is a song of David. Tell the music leader, ‘Use a harp and male singers.’ LORD, do not become angry with me. Please do not become angry.

Psalms 6

David is very ill

This is a song of David.

Tell the music leader, ‘Use a harp and male singers.’

1 LORD, do not become angry with me.

Please do not become angry.

2 LORD, be kind to me because I am not strong.

LORD, give me health because my bones are afraid.

3 I myself am very frightened. LORD – for how long? ^{▼▼6:3 Verses 1-3: David is praying, ‘How long will my illness last?’ This is what ‘how long?’ means. He does not want this to make God angry. In verse 2, ‘my bones are afraid’ probably means ‘my body is ill.’ In verse 3, ‘myself am very frightened’ probably means ‘my mind is ill.’ David does not say that he is ill because he has done wrong.}

4 LORD, come back. Give me back my life.

Make me safe because of your kind love.

5 Nobody that dies can remember you.

Who can praise you in Sheol?

6 I am weak with crying.

My bed swims on my tears every night.

The place where I sleep is soaked.

7 My eyes are so sad that they are growing weak.

They are becoming old because of all my enemies. ^{▼▼6:7 Verses 4-7: God does not answer immediately. So David thinks that God has left him. David asks God to come back because:
– God is so loving and kind
– David cannot praise God in Sheol
Long ago people believed in Sheol. It was a place under the ground. People went there when they died. It was a dark place. In Psalm 16:10 David says he will live with God when he dies. Here, David is so sad that he forgets it! He cries so much his bed is like a boat on water. It floats on his tears! He cries until God answers him.}

8 Go away from me all you bad people.

The LORD has listened to the noise of my crying.

9 The LORD heard me when I asked him for a kind answer.

The LORD will listen to what I say.

10 All those that hate me will be very much ashamed.

They will also be disappointed.

They will be disappointed and soon they will turn away. ^{▼▼6:10 Verses 8-10: David tells his enemies to go away. They were probably telling David that God would not answer. They did this in Psalm 3:2. They said, ‘God will not save David.’ But God did answer David! God was not angry with David.}