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Psalm 6:3

My soul is also in great anguish. But you, LORD—how long?

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?
4Return, LORD. Deliver my soul, and save me for your loving kindness’ sake.
5For in death there is no memory of you. In Sheol, who shall give you thanks?
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Notice

The words “great anguish” lead straight into a question about time, where distress reaches toward YHWH without knowing when relief will come.

Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.

What, if anything, would you bring to YHWH with David’s question, “how long?”

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What do you notice about David addressing YHWH while his soul remains in anguish?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

10 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 13:1For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?Both psalms address the LORD with a question about how long distress will last, leaving that question unanswered in these lines.
Romans 8:26In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with …Both passages concern prayer amid weakness: David voices anguish, while Romans describes the Spirit’s help when words fail.
Psalm 90:13Relent, LORD! How long? Have compassion on your servants!Both ask the LORD how long the wait will last; Psalm 90 adds an explicit plea for compassion.
John 12:27“Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this time’? But I came to this time for this cause.David and Jesus both speak of a troubled soul and turn toward God in the midst of distress.
Luke 18:7Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?Both describe cries directed to God over time; Luke speaks of his chosen ones crying out day and night.
Psalm 42:5Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence.Both name distress within the soul; Psalm 6 addresses the LORD, while Psalm 42 addresses the soul with hope in God.
Jeremiah 15:18Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?Both bring distress into a question directed toward God, with the duration of suffering central to the complaint.
Job 7:19How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?Both ask how long, though David turns toward the LORD and Job asks to be left alone.
Proverbs 18:14A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?Both acknowledge inward distress: David names anguish of soul, and Proverbs describes the burden of a crushed spirit.
Matthew 26:38Then Jesus said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.”David and Jesus both name sorrow within the soul; Jesus also asks his companions to stay and watch with him.
Where this verse fits

Waiting. grief. feeling distant from God.

What the Bible says about patience →What the Bible says about grief →What the Bible says about doubt →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Write a “how long” prayer about one unresolved sorrow

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Encouragement

Your prayer need not sound settled to be addressed to God. David speaks from great anguish, and his unanswered question remains part of Scripture.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 6:3. Write what it stirs. Psalmlog sets your words beside Scripture and gives you one next step. Your first entry is free, no account needed.

Keep goingPsalm 6 · the whole chapter with its connection mapPsalms · every chapterBuild a reading plan through Psalms

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).