Psalm 6

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Biblical text

title: "Psalm 6" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["texts-assigned-to-david", "psalms"] description: "Biblical text" topic_path: "general/texts-assigned-to-david" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psalm_6" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Biblical text ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical composition"]

FieldValue
namePsalm 6
subtitle"O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger"
typePenitential Psalm
imageDavid kneeling in penitence - Hours of Etienne Chevalier (c.1452-1460) - BL Add MS 37421.jpg
image_upright1.2
captionPsalm 6 in an illumination from the Hours of Étienne Chevalier (by Jean Fouquet, ).
other_name"Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me"
textattributed to David
languageHebrew (original)
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| name = Psalm 6 | subtitle = "O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger" | type = Penitential Psalm | image = David kneeling in penitence - Hours of Etienne Chevalier (c.1452-1460) - BL Add MS 37421.jpg | image_upright = 1.2 | alt = | caption = Psalm 6 in an illumination from the Hours of Étienne Chevalier (by Jean Fouquet, ). | other_name = "Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me" | text = attributed to David | language = Hebrew (original) | written = | published = Psalm 6 is the sixth psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure". In Latin, it is known as "Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me". This penitential psalm is traditionally attributed to David.

The psalm forms a regular part of Jewish, Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and other Protestant liturgies. It was paraphrased to a metred hymn in German, "Straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn" by Johann Georg Albinus, which Catherine Winkworth translated into "Not in anger, Mighty God". The psalm has been set to music by composers such as Heinrich Schütz, Johann Sebastian Bach, Max Reger, Jules Van Nuffel and Norma Wendelburg.

Translations

Several significant translations can be identified from the early modern period. In 1532, Marguerite de Navarre, a woman of French nobility, included the sixth psalm of David in the new editions of the popular Miroir de l’âme pécheresse ("The Mirror of a Sinful Soul"). The psalm would also be later translated by the future Elizabeth I of England in 1544, when Elizabeth was eleven years old. Many feel that the penitential Psalm had a reformation orientation to the readers of the day.

Themes

Psalm 6 is supposed to have been written to serve as a prayer for anyone suffering from sickness or distress or for the state of the Kingdom of Israel while suffering through oppression.

The Geneva Bible (1599) gives the following summary:

The psalm is the first of the seven Penitential Psalms, as identified by Cassiodorus in a commentary of the 6th century AD. Many translations have been made of these psalms, and musical settings have been made by many composers. From Augustine's Enarrationes until Eduard König and the advent of the form-critical method in the early 20th century, this was considered one of the penitential psalms. Since then, Hermann Gunkel has classed it as one of the Individual Lamentations, as one of the"Sick Psalms". German scholar Antonius Kuckhoff considers this psalm to be the "paradigmatic example" of the supplication form in the psalms.Nowell, I., Reviewed Work: Psalm 6 und die Bitten im Psalter: Ein paradigmatisches Bin- und Klagegebet im Horizont des Gesamtpsalters (BBB 160) by Antonius Kuckhoff, Catholic Biblical Quarterly, July 2013, Vol. 75, No. 3, pp. 553-555, accessed 17 September 2021

For Martin Luther, the 6th Psalm was very important. It illustrated various central points of his theology.

Psalm 6 is in three parts, distinguished by the person:

  1. First, the psalmist addresses God and
  2. then he speaks for himself, and
  3. finally he speaks to his enemies. The psalmist expresses his distress in parts 1 and 2 and uses a rich palette of words to describe this distress: "powerless", "bone shaking" (verse 2), "extreme distress". He even expresses his distress by the excessiveness of "a bed wet with tears", and an "eye consumed because of grief".

In stating the enemies of the Psalmist, we understand that this distress is caused by relational problem. But it is unclear if he is innocent. However, he says he will be reinstated and that his opponents will be confounded. Trouble seems primarily psychological, but is also expressed through the body. It is as much the body as the soul of the psalmist cries out to God. In fact, it is also touched in his spiritual being, faced with the abandonment of God. In the absence of God emerges the final hope of the Psalmist, expressed confidence cry in the last three verses.

Heading

The Psalm header can be interpreted in different ways:

  • As an indication for the conductor
  • for the musical performance (stringed instruments)
  • eschatological in view of the end times (which lowers the potentially incorrect translation of the Septuagint close)

Text

The following table shows the Hebrew text of the Psalm with vowels, alongside the Koine Greek text in the Septuagint and the English translation from the King James Version. Note that the meaning can slightly differ between these versions, as the Septuagint and the Masoretic Text come from different textual traditions.A 1917 translation directly from Hebrew to English by the Jewish Publication Society can be found here or here, and an 1844 translation directly from the Septuagint by L. C. L. Brenton can be found here. Both translations are in the public domain. ::data[format=table]

#HebrewEnglishGreek
(To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.){{Lang
1O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.ΚΥΡΙΕ, μὴ τῷ θυμῷ σου ἐλέγξῃς με, μηδὲ τῇ ὀργῇ σου παιδεύσῃς με.
2Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.ἐλέησόν με, Κύριε, ὅτι ἀσθενής εἰμι· ἴασαί με, Κύριε, ὅτι ἐταράχθη τὰ ὀστᾶ μου,
3My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?καὶ ἡ ψυχή μου ἐταράχθη σφόδρα· καὶ σύ, Κύριε, ἕως πότε;
4Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.ἐπίστρεψον, Κύριε, ῥῦσαι τὴν ψυχήν μου, σῶσόν με ἕνεκεν τοῦ ἐλέους σου.
5For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ ὁ μνημονεύων σου· ἐν δὲ τῷ ῞ᾼδῃ τίς ἐξομολογήσεταί σοι;
6I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.ἐκοπίασα ἐν τῷ στεναγμῷ μου, λούσω καθ᾿ ἑκάστην νύκτα τὴν κλίνην μου, ἐν δάκρυσί μου τὴν στρωμνήν μου βρέξω.
7Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.ἐταράχθη ἀπὸ θυμοῦ ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου, ἐπαλαιώθην ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἐχθροῖς μου.
8Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.ἀπόστητε ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ πάντες οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν, ὅτι εἰσήκουσε Κύριος τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ κλαυθμοῦ μου·
9The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.ἤκουσε Κύριος τῆς δεήσεώς μου, Κύριος τὴν προσευχήν μου προσεδέξατο.
10Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.αἰσχυνθείησαν καὶ ταραχθείησαν σφόδρα πάντες οἱ ἐχθροί μου, ἀποστραφείησαν καὶ καταισχυνθείησαν σφόδρα διὰ τάχους.
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Uses

Judaism

New Testament

Some verses of Psalm 6 are referenced in the New Testament:

In the Psalms almost all lament Psalms end with an upturn and here the upturn is a statement of confidence in being heard. . The sorrowful prayer models lamenting with an attitude of being heard, as seen in .

Catholicism

According to the Rule of St. Benedict (530 AD), Psalm 1 to Psalm 20 were mainly reserved for the office of Prime. According to the Rule of St. Benedict, (530) it was used on Monday, in the Prime after Psalm 1 and Psalm 25. In the Liturgy of the Hours as well, Psalm 6 is recited or sung to the Office of Readings for Monday of the first week.

Book of Common Prayer

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, this psalm is appointed to be read on the evening of the first day of the month, as well as at Mattins on Ash Wednesday.

Coptic Orthodox Church

In the Agpeya, the Coptic Church's book of hours, this psalm is prayed in the office of Prime, and the first watch of the Midnight office. It is also in the prayer of the Veil, which is generally prayed only by monks.

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Verse 1 (which is almost identical to verse 1 of Psalm 38) is quoted in chapter 6 of 1 Meqabyan, a book considered canonical by this church.

Music

Heinrich Schütz set two different metred hymns paraphrasing Psalm 6, "Ach, Herr, straf mich nicht", SWV 24, included in his Psalmen Davids, Op. 2 (1619), and "Ach Herr mein Gott, straf mich doch nicht", SWV 102, as part of his Becker Psalter settings, Op. 5 (1628). "Herr, straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn / Das bitt ich dich von Herzen" (not to be confused with "Herr, straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn / Lass mich dein Grimm verzehren nicht", a paraphrase of Psalm 38) is a German paraphrase of Psalm 6, set by, among others, Johann Crüger (1640, Zahn No. 4606a).{{cite book | last1 = Zahn | first1 = Johannes | author-link1= Johannes Zahn | date = 1890 | title = Die Melodien der deutschen evangelischen Kirchenlieder | volume = III | location = Gütersloh | publisher = Bertelsmann | language = de | pages = 131–132

Psalm 6 also formed the basis of the metred hymn "Straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn" (Do not punish me in your anger) by Johann Georg Albinus (1686, excerpt; EKG 176),{{cite web | url = http://colmarisches.free.fr/Choralmelodien/Chorals/Strafmichnicht.html | title = Straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn | website = colmarisches.free.fr | date = | access-date = 22 August 2016 | url = http://www.hymnary.org/text/straf_mich_nicht_in_deinem_zorn | title = Straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn | website = hymnary.org | access-date = 16 August 2016 | url = http://www.hymnary.org/text/not_in_anger_mighty_god | title = Not in anger, Mighty God | website = hymnary.org | accessdate = 16 August 2016

Max Reger composed a chorale fantasia for organ, one of his two Zwei Choralphantasien, Op. 40, in 1899, as his Op. 40. Jules Van Nuffel set the psalm in Latin in 1935 as his Op. 44. Alan Hovhaness set verses 1-4 in his opus 28 O Lord, Rebuke Me Not. In 1973, Norma Wendelburg wrote a setting in English, "My Lord, Chastise Me Not in Anger", for mixed chorus and optional organ.

Psalm 6 in medieval illumination

The psalm was frequently chosen for illumination in medieval Books of Hours, to open the section containing the penitential psalms. Folio 65r - Psalm VI.jpg|The Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry (15th century) -DavidGD-1-Book of Hours from Namur.jpg|A Book of Hours from Namur French Miniature Harrowing of Hell.jpg|A 15th-century Book of Hours from the south of France. Surrounding the penitents are the dead in their graves.

Notes

References

References

  1. "Parallel Latin/English Psalter / Psalmus 6".
  2. Poetry Foundation, [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/marguerite-de-navarre Marguerite de Navarre]
  3. "Bodleian - Marks of Genius".
  4. The Artscroll Tehillim page 8
  5. {{bibleverse. Psalm. 6. GNV: Geneva Bible
  6. Beispielsweise von Gregor der Große, In septem Psalmos Paenitentialis; Alkuin, Expositio in Psalmos Poenitentialis; Cassiodor, Expositio in Psalmorum; Martin Luther, Dictata super Psalterium und Operationes in Psalmos.
  7. Antonius Kuckhoff, Psalm 6 und die Bitten im Psalter: ein paradigmatisches Bitt- und Klagegebet im Horizont des Gesamtpsalters. ([[Göttingen]], 2011), p14
  8. Hermann Gunkel: Die Psalmen. 6. Auflage. (Göttingen 1986), p21.
  9. {{bibleverse. Psalm. 6:6. NCV: [[New Century Version]]
  10. {{bibleverse. Psalm. 6:7. KJV: [[King James Version]]
  11. [[Prosper Guéranger]], Règle de saint Benoît, [[Solesmes Abbey. Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Solesmes]], reprinted 2007, p46.
  12. "Psalms – Chapter 6". Mechon Mamre.
  13. "Psalms 6 - JPS 1917". [[Sefaria.
  14. "Psalm 6 - Septuagint and Brenton's Septuagint Translation". Ellopos.
  15. Scherman, Rabbi Nosson. (1987). "The Complete Artscroll Siddur". [[Artscroll.
  16. Kirkpatrick, A. F.. (1901). "The Book of Psalms: with Introduction and Notes". At the University Press.
  17. The main cycle of liturgical prayers takes place over four weeks.
  18. Church of England, [https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/The%20Book%20of%20Common%20Prayer%201662.pdf Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter] as printed by [[John Baskerville]] in 1762, p. 199
  19. "The Book of Common Prayer: Proper Psalms On Certain Days".
  20. "Prime". agpeya.org.
  21. "Midnight". agpeya.org.
  22. "Veil". agpeya.org.
  23. "Torah of Yeshuah: Book of Meqabyan I – III".
  24. {{IMSLP2. Psalmen Davids sampt etlichen Moteten und Concerten, Op.2 (Schütz, Heinrich)
  25. {{IMSLP. Becker Psalter, Op.5 (Schütz, Heinrich)
  26. [[Cornelius Becker]] (1602). ''[[Becker Psalter
  27. {{ChoralWiki. Herr straf mich nicht in Deinem Zorn, SWV 135 (Heinrich Schütz)
  28. [[Gottfried Vopelius]] (1682). ''[[Neu Leipziger Gesangbuch]]'', pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=UmVkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA648 648–651].
  29. {{BDh. 408. 00. 2019-03-11. Work. Herr, straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn BWV 338
  30. [http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0338.htm BWV 338] at Luke Dahn's {{url. www.bach-chorales.com website.
  31. {{IMSLP. Domine ne in furore (Desmarets, Henri)
  32. "Alan Hovhaness List of Works by Opus Number".

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