7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.
7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.
7 The sockets of my eyes are black holes; nearly blind, I squint and grope.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief; It grows old because of all my enemies.
7 My vision is blurred by grief; my eyes are worn out because of all my enemies.
3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
3 Take a good look at me, God, my God; I want to look life in the eye,
3 Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death;
3 Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
The psalmist complains that God had long withdrawn. He earnestly prays for comfort. He assures himself of an answer of peace.
God sometimes hides his face, and leaves his own children in the dark concerning their interest in him: and this they lay to heart more than any outward trouble whatever. But anxious cares are heavy burdens with which believers often load themselves more than they need. The bread of sorrows is sometimes the saint's daily bread; our Master himself was a man of sorrows. It is a common temptation, when trouble lasts long, to think that it will last always. Those who have long been without joy, begin to be without hope. We should never allow ourselves to make any complaints but what drive us to our knees. Nothing is more killing to a soul than the want of God's favour; nothing more reviving than the return of it. The sudden, delightful changes in the book of Psalms, are often very remarkable. We pass from depth of despondency to the height of religious confidence and joy. It is thus, ver. 5. All is gloomy dejection in ver. 4; but here the mind of the despondent worshipper rises above all its distressing fears, and throws itself, without reserve, on the mercy and care of its Divine Redeemer. See the power of faith, and how good it is to draw near to God. If we bring our cares and griefs to the throne of grace, and leave them there, we may go away like Hannah, and our countenances will be no more said, 1 Samuel 1:18. God's mercy is the support of the psalmist's faith. Finding I have that to trust to, I am comforted, though I have no merit of my own. His faith in God's mercy filled his heart with joy in his salvation; for joy and peace come by believing. He has dealt bountifully with me. By faith he was as confident of salvation, as if it had been completed already. In this way believers pour out their prayers, renouncing all hopes but in the mercy of God through the Saviour's blood: and sometimes suddenly, at others gradually, they will find their burdens removed, and their comforts restored; they then allow that their fears and complaints were unnecessary, and acknowledge that the Lord hath dealt bountifully with them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 6:7
Commentary on Psalm 6:1-7
(Read Psalm 6:1-7)
These verses speak the language of a heart truly humbled, of a broken and contrite spirit under great afflictions, sent to awaken conscience and mortify corruption. Sickness brought sin to his remembrance, and he looked upon it as a token of God's displeasure against him. The affliction of his body will be tolerable, if he has comfort in his soul. Christ's sorest complaint, in his sufferings, was of the trouble of his soul, and the want of his Father's smiles. Every page of Scripture proclaims the fact, that salvation is only of the Lord. Man is a sinner, his case can only be reached by mercy; and never is mercy more illustrious than in restoring backsliders. With good reason we may pray, that if it be the will of God, and he has any further work for us or our friends to do in this world, he will yet spare us or them to serve him. To depart and be with Christ is happiest for the saints; but for them to abide in the flesh is more profitable for the church.