5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave?
5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?
5 I'm no good to you dead, am I? I can't sing in your choir if I'm buried in some tomb!
5 For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks?
5 For the dead do not remember you. Who can praise you from the grave?
17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to the place of silence;
17 The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.
17 The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.
17 Dead people can't praise God - not a word to be heard from those buried in the ground.
17 The dead do not praise the Lord, Nor any who go down into silence.
17 The dead cannot sing praises to the Lord, for they have gone into the silence of the grave.
(Read Psalm 115:9-18)
It is folly to trust in dead images, but it is wisdom to trust in the living God, for he is a help and a shield to those that trust in him. Wherever there is right fear of God, there may be cheerful faith in him; those who reverence his word, may rely upon it. He is ever found faithful. The greatest need his blessing, and it shall not be denied to the meanest that fear him. God's blessing gives an increase, especially in spiritual blessings. And the Lord is to be praised: his goodness is large, for he has given the earth to the children of men for their use. The souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burdens of the flesh, are still praising him; but the dead body cannot praise God: death puts an end to our glorifying him in this world of trial and conflict. Others are dead, and an end is thereby put to their service, therefore we will seek to do the more for God. We will not only do it ourselves, but will engage others to do it; to praise him when we are gone. Lord, thou art the only object for faith and love. Help us to praise thee while living and when dying, that thy name may be the first and last upon our lips: and let the sweet savour of thy name refresh our souls for ever.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 6:5
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.