Psalms

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Psalm 6

1 For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David. Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger. Do not discipline me in your raging fury. 2 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am frail. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking. 3 I am absolutely terrified, and you, Lord—how long will this continue? 4 Relent, Lord, rescue me! Deliver me because of your faithfulness. 5 For no one remembers you in the realm of death. In Sheol who gives you thanks?⁠ 6 I am exhausted as I groan. All night long I drench my bed in tears; my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.⁠ 7 My eyes grow dim from suffering; they grow weak because of all my enemies. 8 Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 9 The Lord has heard my appeal for mercy;⁠ the Lord has accepted my prayer.⁠ 10 They will be humiliated and absolutely terrified. All my enemies will turn back and be suddenly humiliated.

Texts in conversation

Compare Isaiah 38:18 and Psalm 6:5

Hebrew Bible

Summary

In Psalm 6, the psalmist appeals for rescue, emphasizing that in death there is no memory or thanksgiving, presenting Sheol as a place without consciousness. Isaiah echoes this language when Hezekiah laments that the dead do not know God's faithfulness.

Passages

Isaiah 38:18

Hebrew Bible

16 O Lord, your decrees can give men life; may years of life be restored to me. Restore my health and preserve my life.’ 17 “Look, the grief I experienced was for my benefit. You delivered me from the Pit of oblivion. For you removed all my sins from your sight. 18 Indeed Sheol does not give you thanks; death does not praise you. Those who descend into the Pit do not anticipate your faithfulness. 19 The living person, the living person, he gives you thanks, as I do today. A father tells his sons about your faithfulness. 20 The Lord is about to deliver me, and we will celebrate with music for the rest of our lives in the Lord’s temple.”

740–450 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Isaiah

Psalm 6:5

Hebrew Bible

3 I am absolutely terrified, and you, Lord—how long will this continue? 4 Relent, Lord, rescue me! Deliver me because of your faithfulness. 5 For no one remembers you in the realm of death. In Sheol who gives you thanks? 6 I am exhausted as I groan. All night long I drench my bed in tears; my tears saturate the cushion beneath me. 7 My eyes grow dim from suffering; they grow weak because of all my enemies.

600–201 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Psalms

References

"... Not only do the dead in Sheol have no memory of God or know of his faithfulness and salvation, but also they are unable to praise him (Psalms 6:5; 88:4–5, 10–12; 115:17); this final sentiment is echoed by King Hezekiah as he contemplates his own death (Isaiah 38:18). Thus, we find the psalmist’s desperate plea with God for rescue or healing: “What profit is there in my death, / if I go down to the Pit? / Will the dust praise you? / Will it tell of your faithfulness?” (Psalm 30:9). The point is that if God wants the psalmist’s praise, he must prevent the psalmist from dying ..."

J. Richard Middleton, A New Heaven and a New Earth: Reclaiming Biblical Eschatology (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014), 133.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Psalms150 psalms

Compare Isaiah 38:18 and Psalm 6:5

Summary

Passages

Isaiah 38:18

Psalm 6:5

References

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