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Psalm 6:5

For in death there is no memory of you. In Sheol, who shall give you thanks?

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?
6I am weary with my groaning. Every night I flood my bed. I drench my couch with my tears.
7My eye wastes away because of grief. It grows old because of all my adversaries.
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← Psalm 6:4Psalm 6:6 →
Notice

Death appears here as the loss of remembrance and thanks, making the plea for rescue urgent for someone who still wants to address God.

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

What do you make of the psalmist’s appeal to God through the loss of thanks in death?

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What would you want to keep thanking God for if your life felt threatened?

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How does reading this line between the plea for rescue and the tears shape your understanding?

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Connect

Where else Scripture says this

9 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
Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, where you are going.Both name Sheol as a place where activities of life cease: remembrance and thanks in the psalm, work and knowledge in Ecclesiastes.
Psalm 88:10–12Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? Selah.Both address God with questions about the dead praising him, making the loss of praise part of their lament.
Psalm 115:17The dead don’t praise the LORD, nor any who go down into silence,Psalm 6 asks who will thank God in Sheol; Psalm 115 states that the dead do not praise the LORD.
Psalm 118:17I will not die, but live, and declare the LORD’s works.Both link continued life with speaking of God: Psalm 6 pleads against death, while Psalm 118 declares survival and testimony.
Psalm 30:9“What profit is there in my destruction, if I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise you? Shall it declare your truth?Both appeal to God by asking whether death leaves anyone able to praise him.
Ecclesiastes 9:5For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten.Both speak of death and memory, though Psalm 6 concerns remembering God and Ecclesiastes describes the dead being forgotten.
Isaiah 38:18–19For Sheol can’t praise you. Death can’t celebrate you. Those who go down into the pit can’t hope for your truth.Both name Sheol and describe death as the loss of praise or thanks directed to God.
John 9:4I must work the works of him who sent me while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.The connection is limited to activity ending: Psalm 6 speaks of thanks ceasing in death, while Jesus speaks of work ending at night.
Genesis 47:29Both place an appeal in the shadow of death, though Israel asks Joseph about burial and the psalmist addresses God.
Where this verse fits

Death and what comes after. illness or diagnosis. grief.

What the Bible says about death →What the Bible says about grief →
One step

Something small to carry out of this verse

Pray Psalm 6:4–5 aloud before bed

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Encouragement

You do not have to turn fear of death into calm words before praying. Here, an anguished plea for life rests on God’s loving kindness.

Now put it in your words.

Start an entry on Psalm 6:5. 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).