The big picture
Psalms 6 opens in verse 1 with “O LORD , rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 5 with “For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?”, and closes in verse 10 with “Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, vexed, ashamed, enemies, return. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 10Psalms 6:1-5
1–5: O LORD , rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot…
Psalms 6:1–5 opens with “O LORD , rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.” and reaches “For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 6 develops its own movement around LORD, vexed, ashamed, enemies, return, with particular weight carried by LORD, soul, vexed.
Psalms 6:1-5
King James Version1O LORD , rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2Have mercy upon me, O LORD ; for I am weak: O LORD , heal me; for my bones are vexed.
3My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD , how long?
4Return, O LORD , deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.
5For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
Psalms 6:6-10
6–10: I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I…
Psalms 6:6–10 opens with “I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my…” and reaches “Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 6 develops its own movement around LORD, vexed, ashamed, enemies, return, with particular weight carried by LORD, ashamed, enemies.
Psalms 6:6-10
King James Version6I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
7Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.
8Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.
9The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
10Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Psalms 6:1 begins with “O LORD , rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.”
Where the chapter turns
Psalms 6:5 forms a natural hinge: “For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?”
The final note
Psalms 6:10 leaves the reader with “Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, vexed, ashamed, enemies, return, sore help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What repeated description explains the judgment?
The earth is corrupt and filled with violence, especially in verses 11-13.
What does obedience look like here?
Detailed preparation, gathering provisions and constructing what God commands.
KJV words made clear
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.