Psalm 6

First Version

Long Metre (8,8,8,8)

Suggested Tunes: 13 Saxony, 5 Finnart, 14 Soldau

1    Lord, in thy wrath rebuke me not;

      Nor in thy hot rage chasten me.

2    Lord, pity me, for I am weak:

      Heal me, for my bones vexed be.

3    My soul is also vexed sore;

      But, Lord, how long stay wilt thou make?

4    Return, O Lord, my soul set free;

      O save me, for thy mercies sake.

5    Because those that deceased are

      Of thee shall no remembrance have;

      And who is he that will to thee

      Give praises lying in the grave?

6    I with my groaning weary am,

      I also all the night my bed

      Have caused for to swim; and I

      With tears my couch have watered.

7    Mine eye, consum’d with grief, grows old,

      Because of all mine enemies.

8    Hence from me, wicked workers all;

      For God hath heard my weeping cries.

9    God hath my supplication heard,

      My pray’r received graciously.

10  Sham’d and sore vex’d be all my foes,

      Sham’d and back turned suddenly.

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Second Version

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes: 142 Walsall, 123 St Neot, 50 Dundee

1    In thy great indignation,

            O Lord, rebuke me not;

      Nor on me lay thy chast’ning hand

            in thy displeasure hot.

2    Lord, I am weak, therefore on me

            have mercy, and me spare:

      Heal me, O Lord, because thou know’st

            my bones much vexed are.

3    My soul is vexed sore: but, Lord,

            how long stay wilt thou make?

4    Return, Lord, free my soul; and save

            me, for thy mercies’ sake.

5    Because of thee in death there shall

            no more remembrance be:

      Of those that in the grave do lie,

            who shall give thanks to thee?

6    I with my groaning weary am,

            and all the night my bed

      I caused for to swim; with tears

            my couch I watered.

7    By reason of my vexing grief

            mine eye consumed is;

      It waxeth old, because of all

            that be mine enemies.

8    But now, depart from me all ye

            that work iniquity:

      For why? the Lord hath heard my voice,

            when I did mourn and cry.

9    Unto my supplication

            the Lord did hearing give:

      When I to him my prayer make,

            the Lord will it receive.

10  Let all be sham’d and troubled sore,

            that en’mies are to me;

      Let them turn back, and suddenly

            ashamed let them be.