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Psalms 6:6 meaning

Even in great distress, hope remains.

When the psalmist mourns, “I am weary with my sighing; Every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears” (v.6), he expresses a moment of overwhelming sorrow and distress. King David, who ruled Israel from about 1010 BC to 970 BC, is traditionally believed to be the author of this psalm, and his intense language paints a vivid picture of anguish. While he does not mention any specific location in this verse, David’s emotional lament reflects his deep reliance on God during moments of hopelessness.

The phrase “I am weary with my sighing” highlights the psalmist’s physical and emotional exhaustion, revealing how continuous grief can drain the spirit (v.6). The image of making his bed “swim” with tears serves to emphasize that his sorrow seemingly has no end. This sorrowful plea is repeated in many of the Psalms, where David models genuine confession, repentance, and honest emotion before the Lord (Psalm 32). Through David’s anguish, we are reminded of our own times of despair when we, too, must cry out to God for mercy.

From a broader biblical perspective, such profound sadness aligns with Jesus’ invitation to the weary, when He said that He would give rest to those burdened by life’s troubles (Matthew 11:28-30). The tears that flood this passage point to the need for divine comfort, showing that in the depths of pain, God remains a gracious refuge. David’s raw lament suggests that our sorrow is not wasted when it pushes us closer to the Lord, who provides comfort in tribulation (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Psalms 6:6