Psalms 31:9

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The psalmist addresses Yahweh directly, pleading for mercy while experiencing acute physical and emotional distress. This appeal follows a statement of deliverance from the enemy and precedes a description of grief consuming his years and draining his strength.

The words — חָנֵּ֥נִי (chaneni) literally means "show favor to me," forming the core plea for divine compassion. עָשְׁשָׁ֖ה (asheshah) describes the eyes as having "wasted away" from grief, emphasizing physical depletion.

The thread — The motif of eyes failing from grief appears in Psalms 6:7 and Psalms 88:9, while the tension between physical decay and divine sustenance echoes Psalms 73:26. These passages share the psalmist's pattern of linking emotional anguish with bodily decline.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human suffering exhausts both mind and body, requiring direct intervention from God. It asks readers to bring their complete depletion to Yahweh without minimizing the reality of their pain.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

חָנֵּ֥נִיcho.ne./nishow favor to/ me יְהוָה֮Yah.wehO Yahweh כִּ֤יkifor צַ֫ר־Tzar-it is distressלִ֥יl/ito/ meעָשְׁשָׁ֖ה'a.she.Shahit has wasted away בְכַ֥עַסve./Kha.'aswith/ grief עֵינִ֗י'ei.N/ieye/ my נַפְשִׁ֥יnaf.Sh/ibeing/ my וּבִטְנִֽי׃u./vit.N/iand/ belly/ my

King James Version

Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

Cross-references

Psalms 6:7 My eyes fail from grief; they grow dim because of all my foes.
Psalms 88:9 My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You.
Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Job 17:7 My eyes have grown dim with grief, and my whole body is but a shadow.
Job 33:19 A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,
Psalms 6:1 For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments, according to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.
Psalms 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me.
Psalms 38:1 A Psalm of David, for remembrance. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.
Psalms 44:25 For our soul has sunk to the dust; our bodies cling to the earth.
Psalms 66:14 the vows that my lips promised and my mouth spoke in my distress.