
In Psalm VI, whose text appears on this page, David
appeals to the goodness of the Lord, who in the
miniature appears half-length amid clouds.
David
has set his crown in front of himself and has left his
throne to prostrate himself with joined hands before
God: "Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak:
heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. And my
soul is troubled exceedingly..."
This psalm seems to have been composed by the
King of Israel at a moment when he felt abandoned
by all: "My eye is troubled through indignation: I
have grown old amongst all my enemies."
Certain
figures in the crowd behind David look at him wickedly while others avert their eyes; these are the
enemies to which the psalm refers, the men of Israel
who forsook the King during Absalom's rebellion.
Jean Colombe executed the miniature, although
the initial letter and its bearded figure, whose hair is
held by a yellow ribbon tied on the side, were painted
at the time of the Duc de Berry.
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