Corpus Psalterium · Vol. I
Psalm VI (6)
Cantillated — Penitential Lament
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
Psalm 6 in Hebrew and English, and the words as they are sung.
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, upon the eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm by David.
לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ בִּ֭נְגִינוֹת עַֽל־הַשְּׁמִינִ֗ית מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃
Yahweh, don’t rebuke me in your anger, neither discipline me in your wrath.
יְֽהוָ֗ה אַל־בְּאַפְּךָ֥ תוֹכִיחֵ֑נִי וְֽאַל־בַּחֲמָתְךָ֥ תְיַסְּרֵֽנִי׃
Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am faint. Yahweh, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
חָנֵּ֥נִי יְהוָה֮ כִּ֤י אֻמְלַ֫ל אָ֥נִי רְפָאֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֖י נִבְהֲל֣וּ עֲצָמָֽי׃
My soul is also in great anguish. But you, Yahweh—how long?
וְ֭נַפְשִׁי נִבְהֲלָ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד ואת יְ֝הוָ֗ה עַד־מָתָֽי׃
Return, Yahweh. Deliver my soul, and save me for your loving kindness’ sake.
שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה חַלְּצָ֣ה נַפְשִׁ֑י ה֝וֹשִׁיעֵ֗נִי לְמַ֣עַן חַסְדֶּֽךָ׃
For in death there is no memory of you. In Sheol, who shall give you thanks?
כִּ֤י אֵ֣ין בַּמָּ֣וֶת זִכְרֶ֑ךָ בִּ֝שְׁא֗וֹל מִ֣י יֽוֹדֶה־לָּֽךְ׃
I am weary with my groaning. Every night I flood my bed. I drench my couch with my tears.
יָגַ֤עְתִּי ׀ בְּֽאַנְחָתִ֗י אַשְׂחֶ֣ה בְכָל־לַ֭יְלָה מִטָּתִ֑י בְּ֝דִמְעָתִ֗י עַרְשִׂ֥י אַמְסֶֽה׃
My eye wastes away because of grief. It grows old because of all my adversaries.
עָֽשְׁשָׁ֣ה מִכַּ֣עַס עֵינִ֑י עָֽ֝תְקָ֗ה בְּכָל־צוֹרְרָֽי׃
Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for Yahweh has heard the voice of my weeping.
ס֣וּרוּ מִ֭מֶּנִּי כָּל־פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֥ע יְ֝הוָ֗ה ק֣וֹל בִּכְיִֽי׃
Yahweh has heard my supplication. Yahweh accepts my prayer.
שָׁמַ֣ע יְ֭הוָה תְּחִנָּתִ֑י יְ֝הוָ֗ה תְּֽפִלָּתִ֥י יִקָּֽח׃
May all my enemies be ashamed and dismayed. They shall turn back, they shall be disgraced suddenly.
יֵבֹ֤שׁוּ ׀ וְיִבָּהֲל֣וּ מְ֭אֹד כָּל־אֹיְבָ֑י יָ֝שֻׁ֗בוּ יֵבֹ֥שׁוּ רָֽגַע׃
Hebrew: Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), from the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. English: World English Bible (public domain). Verse numbers follow the English Bible; the Hebrew numbering is shown beneath where it differs.
O Lord
do not rebuke me
in Your anger
do not discipline me
in Your wrath
Be gracious to me, O Lord
for I am weak
Heal me, O Lord
for my bones are troubled
My soul is deeply troubled
And You, O Lord
how long
How long
how long
Will You wait
Will You wait
Return, O Lord
deliver my soul
Save me
for the sake of Your love
Return, O Lord
deliver my soul
For in death
there is no remembrance of You
In the grave
who will give You praise
I am weary
with my groaning
Every night
I flood my bed
With my tears
with my tears
My eyes grow weak
with sorrow
They fail
because of my enemies
I am breaking
I am breaking
Depart from me
all you workers of evil
For the Lord has heard
the sound of my weeping
The Lord has heard
my cry
The Lord has heard
my plea
The Lord accepts
my prayer
The Lord has heard
The Lord has heard
All my enemies
will be ashamed
They will turn back
they will fall
They will be put to shame
in a moment
O Lord
You have heard
You have heard
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable English rendering of the Hebrew, as sung on this recording.
Corpus Psalterium sets each psalm to music by its Hebrew grammar. Didactic psalms teach; Cantillated psalms are spoken, sung or performed before God. Hear all 150 psalms free.