Psalms 6:4

4 Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.

Psalms 6:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 Return, O LORD, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love.
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 Break in, God, and break up this fight; if you love me at all, get me out of here.
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 Return, O Jehovah, deliver my soul: Save me for thy lovingkindness' sake.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 Come back, O LORD. Rescue me. Save me because of your mercy!
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 Turn, Lord! Rescue me; save me because of Your faithful love.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 Lord, turn to me and help me. Save me. Your love never fails.

Psalms 6:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 6:4

Return, O Lord
By this it seems that the Lord had withdrawn himself, and was departed from the psalmist, wherefore he entreats him to return unto him, and grant him his gracious presence. God is immense and omnipresent, he is everywhere: going away and returning cannot be properly ascribed to him; but he, nay be said to depart from his people, as to sensible communion with him, and enjoyment of him, when he hides his face, withdraws his gracious presence, and the comfortable discoveries and influences of his love; and he may be said to return when he visits them again, and manifests his love and favour to them: the Jewish writers F4 interpret it,

``return from the fierceness of thine anger,''

as in ( Psalms 85:3 ) ; and though there is no such change in God, as from love to wrath, and from wrath to love; but inasmuch as there is a change in his dispensations towards his people, it is as if it was so; and thus it is apprehended by them;

deliver my soul;
from the anxiety, distress, and sore vexation it was now in, for of all troubles soul troubles are the worst: and from all enemies and workers of iniquity which were now about him, and gave him much grief and uneasiness; and from death itself, he was in fear of;

O, save me for thy mercy's sake;
out of all troubles of soul and body, and out of the hands of all enemies, inward and outward; and with temporal, spiritual, and eternal salvation; not for his righteousness's sake, as Kimchi well observes; for salvation is according to the abundant mercy of God, and not through works of righteousness done by men, otherwise it would not be of grace.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 Jarchi, Aben Ezra, Kimchi, & Ben Melech in loc.

Psalms 6:4 In-Context

2 Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long?
4 Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave?
6 I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Psalms 25:16; Psalms 31:2; Psalms 69:16; Psalms 71:2; Psalms 86:16; Psalms 88:2; Psalms 102:2; Psalms 119:132
  • 2. Psalms 13:5; Psalms 31:16; Psalms 77:8; Psalms 85:7; Psalms 119:41; Isaiah 54:8,10; Psalms 17:13
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