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Psalm 6:1
For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, upon the eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm by David. LORD, don’t rebuke me in your anger, neither discipline me in your wrath.
1For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, upon the eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm by David. LORD, don’t rebuke me in your anger, neither discipline me in your wrath.
2Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint. LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
3My soul is also in great anguish. But you, LORD—how long?
Notice
David's plea against rebuke in anger touches the fear of God's displeasure, even as he turns toward the God whose wrath he dreads.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What makes it hard for you to address God when you fear his displeasure?
Write on thisHow does David's request about anger shape the way you think about God's correction?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 38:1A Psalm by David, for a memorial. LORD, don’t rebuke me in your wrath, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.Both prayers ask the LORD to withhold rebuke in wrath, pairing the language of correction with the fear of divine anger.
Psalm 118:18The LORD has punished me severely, but he has not given me over to death.Both speak of the LORD's discipline: David pleads against discipline in wrath, while Psalm 118 recounts punishment that stopped short of death.
Psalm 12:1For the Chief Musician; upon an eight-stringed lyre. A Psalm of David. Help, LORD; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of …Both psalms name David and the eight-stringed lyre in their headings, then open with a direct appeal to the LORD.
Jeremiah 10:24LORD, correct me, but gently; not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.Both prayers ask the LORD to withhold anger in correction; Jeremiah makes the request for gentleness explicit.
Jeremiah 46:28Don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant,” says the LORD, “for I am with you; for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you, but I will not …Both address God's correction: David asks to be spared discipline in wrath, while Jeremiah speaks of correction in measure.
1 Corinthians 11:31–32For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged.God's judgment is at issue in both texts; Paul speaks of self-examination, while David pleads against rebuke in anger.
Isaiah 57:16For I will not contend forever, neither will I always be angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls whom I have made.David pleads to be spared God's anger; Isaiah records God's resolve that his anger will not last forever.
1 Chronicles 15:21and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre, to lead.The eight-stringed lyre appears in both texts, linking Psalm 6's musical heading with the instruments named in Chronicles.
Psalm 4:1For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David. Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy …Both psalms specify stringed instruments and begin by addressing God from distress, seeking relief or mercy.
Isaiah 54:9“For this is like the waters of Noah to me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be …David pleads against rebuke in anger; Isaiah records God's oath that he will neither be angry nor rebuke.
Jeremiah 30:11For I am with you, says the LORD, to save you; for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you, but I will not make a full end of you; …The shared concern is God's correction: Psalm 6 asks against wrath, and Jeremiah promises correction in measure without leaving wrongdoing unpunished.
Revelation 3:19As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.David pleads against discipline in wrath; Revelation speaks of reproof and chastening given in love, with a command to repent.
Where this verse fits
Guilt and confession. feeling distant from God. anxiety or panic.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
Fear of God's anger does not have to end your prayer. David speaks that fear to YHWH himself; his plea for mercy begins there.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).