Back to Psalm 6

Close-but-Clear^[1]

1 For the director, with stringed instruments, on the octave. A psalm by David.

2 YHWH, do not correct me in your anger,
and do not discipline me in your wrath.

3 Have mercy on me, YHWH, for I am languishing.
Heal me, YHWH, for my bones have become dismayed.

4 And my soul has become very dismayed.
And you, YHWH, how long?

5 Turn back, YHWH. Rescue my soul.
Save me for the sake of your loyalty.

6 For there is no commemoration of you in the world of the dead.
In Sheol, who praises you?

7 I have grown weary because of my groaning.
I drench my couch every night.
With my tears I melt my bed.

8 My eye has wasted away because of vexation.
It has become weak because of all my adversaries.

9 Move away from me, all workers of evil.
For YHWH has heard the sound of my weeping.

10 YHWH has heard my supplication.
YHWH will accept my prayer.

11 Let all my enemies be shamed and very dismayed.
Let them turn back. Let them be shamed in an instant.

Synthesis^[2]

1 For the director, with stringed instruments, on the octave. A psalm by David.

2 YHWH, don’t carry out your correction in anger!

Don’t let it be in your wrath that you discipline me!

3 Have mercy on me, YHWH! I’m sinking into despondency.

Heal me, YHWH! My whole being is dismayed.

4 Down to my core I’m deeply dismayed.

YHWH, you… how long?

5 Relent, YHWH, and rescue me!

Help me for the sake of your covenant loyalty!

6 For no one proclaims your name in death.

In the world of the dead, who can praise you?

7 I’m tired of groaning.

Night after night, my bed floats in a flood

of tears and dissolves.

8 My health has decayed in grief and anger.

I’m fading away because of my foes.

9 Get away from me, all you depraved people!

YHWH has heard my weeping!

10 YHWH has heard my plea for mercy!

YHWH will accept my prayer!

11 Let all my enemies be shamed and deeply dismayed!

Let them go back to where they came from! Let them be suddenly shamed!

↑ The close-but-clear translation exists to provide a window into the Hebrew text (syntax as well as word and phrase level semantics) for non-Hebrew readers of the Psalms: Layer by Layer materials. It is intended as a supplement to these materials rather than a stand-alone translation.
↑ Whereas the close-but-clear translation aims for accuracy and clarity in representing the syntax and word-phrase level semantics of the Hebrew text, the synthesis translation takes into account the higher levels of analysis (discourse and poetics) and aims to present the text in more natural English.