2 Or “show me favor.”
3 Normally the verb בָּהַל (bahal) refers to an emotional response and means “tremble with fear, be terrified” (see vv. 3, 10). Perhaps here the “bones” are viewed as the seat of the psalmist’s emotions. However, the verb may describe one of the effects of his physical ailment, perhaps a fever. In Ezek 7:27 the verb describes how the hands of the people will shake with fear when they experience the horrors of divine judgment.
4 Heb “my being is very terrified.” The suffixed form of נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “being”) is often equivalent to a pronoun in poetic texts.
5 Heb “and you, Lord, how long?” The suffering psalmist speaks in broken syntax. He addresses God, but then simply cries out with a brief, but poignant, question: How long will this (= his suffering) continue?
6 Heb “my being,” or “my life.” The suffixed form of נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh, “being”) is often equivalent to a pronoun in poetic texts.
7 Deliver me because of your faithfulness. Though the psalmist is experiencing divine discipline, he realizes that God has made a commitment to him in the past, so he appeals to God’s faithfulness in his request for help.
8 Heb “for there is not in death your remembrance.” The Hebrew noun זֵכֶר (zekher, “remembrance”) here refers to the name of the Lord as invoked in liturgy and praise. Cf. Pss 30:4; 97:12. “Death” here refers to the realm of death where the dead reside. See the reference to Sheol in the next line.
9 The rhetorical question anticipates the answer, “no one.” In Sheol who gives you thanks? According to the OT, those who descend into the realm of death/Sheol are cut off from God’s mighty deeds and from the worshiping covenant community that experiences divine intervention (Pss 30:9; 88:10–12; Isa 38:18). In his effort to elicit a positive divine response, the psalmist reminds God that he will receive no praise or glory if he allows the psalmist to die. Dead men do not praise God!
10 Heb “I cause to swim through all the night my bed.”
11 Heb “with my tears my bed I flood/melt.”
12 The Hebrew text has the singular “eye” here.
13 Or perhaps, “are swollen.”
14 Or perhaps, “grow old.”
15 In his weakened condition the psalmist is vulnerable to the taunts and threats of his enemies.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;

heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

My soul also is greatly troubled.

But you, O Lord—how long?

Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;

save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

For in death there is no remembrance of you;

in Sheol who will give you praise?

I am weary with my moaning;

every night I flood my bed with tears;

I drench my couch with my weeping.

My eye wastes away because of grief;

it grows weak because of all my foes.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;

heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.

My soul is in deep anguish.

How long, Lord, how long?

Turn, Lord, and deliver me;

save me because of your unfailing love.

Among the dead no one proclaims your name.

Who praises you from the grave?

I am worn out from my groaning.

All night long I flood my bed with weeping

and drench my couch with tears.

My eyes grow weak with sorrow;

they fail because of all my foes.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am weak;

heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking;

my whole being is shaken with terror.

And you, Lord—how long?

Turn, Lord! Rescue me;

save me because of your faithful love.

For there is no remembrance of you in death;

who can thank you in Sheol?

I am weary from my groaning;

with my tears I dampen my bed

and drench my couch every night.

My eyes are swollen from grief;

they grow old because of all my enemies.

NLTNew Living Translation

Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.

Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.

I am sick at heart.

How long, O Lord, until you restore me?

Return, O Lord, and rescue me.

Save me because of your unfailing love.

For the dead do not remember you.

Who can praise you from the grave?

I am worn out from sobbing.

All night I flood my bed with weeping,

drenching it with my tears.

My vision is blurred by grief;

my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Be gracious to me, O Yahweh, because I am feeble.

Heal me, O Yahweh, for my bones are terrified.

My soul is also very terrified.

But you, O Yahweh, how long?

Turn, O Yahweh; deliver my life.

Save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

For there is no remembrance of you in death.

In Sheol, who will give thanks to you?

I am weary with my groaning;

I flood my bed every night.

With my tears I drench my couch.

My eye wastes away because of vexation;

it grows old because of all my oppressors.

KJV 1900King James Version

Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak:

O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

My soul is also sore vexed:

But thou, O Lord, how long?

Return, O Lord, deliver my soul:

Oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.

For in death there is no remembrance of thee:

In the grave who shall give thee thanks?

I am weary with my groaning;

All the night make I my bed to swim;

I water my couch with my tears.

Mine eye is consumed because of grief;

It waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

Public Domain