Psalms 69

Zeal, Reproach, and the Saving God Who Rebuilds Zion

Psalm 69 moves from drowning distress and causeless hatred, through reproach for God-centered zeal and renewed pleas for rescue, into imprecatory judgment, thankful praise, and covenant hope for Zion and the descendants of God's servants.

World English Bible, Public Domain

Psalm 69:1-4

The righteous, overwhelmed by suffering and unjust hostility, cry out to God for rescue, knowing that He alone can save.

1 Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!

2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

3 I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail looking for my God.

4 Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn’t take away.

Psalm 69:5-12

The one who seeks God may suffer shame and rejection, yet must anchor his identity and hope in God's knowledge and covenant faithfulness.

5 God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren’t hidden from you.

6 Don’t let those who wait for you be shamed through me, Lord Yahweh of Armies. Don’t let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel.

7 Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s children.

9 For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

10 When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach.

11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

12 Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.

Psalm 69:13-21

The righteous sufferer pleads for deliverance based on God’s unfailing love, trusting that God will answer at the right time and rescue from overwhelming affliction.

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.

14 Deliver me out of the mire, and don’t let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.

15 Don’t let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don’t let the pit shut its mouth on me.

16 Answer me, Yahweh, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.

17 Don’t hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily!

18 Draw near to my soul and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.

19 You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before you.

20 Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.

21 They also gave me poison for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

Psalm 69:22-28

Those who oppose God and afflict the righteous will ultimately face the just judgment of God, who defends His servant and upholds righteousness.

22 Let their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap.

23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can’t see. Let their backs be continually bent.

24 Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.

25 Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents.

26 For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.

27 Charge them with crime upon crime. Don’t let them come into your righteousness.

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.

Psalm 69:29-36

The afflicted who trust in God will be lifted up, and their suffering will ultimately give way to praise, restoration, and lasting inheritance.

29 But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31 It will please Yahweh better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.

32 The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.

33 For Yahweh hears the needy, and doesn’t despise his captive people.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves therein!

35 For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.

36 The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell therein.

Key Terms

אֱלֹהִים Elohim H430
מַיִם mayim H4325
נֶפֶשׁ nephesh H5315
אֵין מָעֳמָד ein maamad H4613
קָרְאִי qor'i H7121
חִנָּם chinnam H2600
אֹיְבַי oyevai H341
מַצְמִיתַי matzmitai H6789
אָשִׁיב ashiv H7725

World English Bible (WEB): Public Domain Scripture text · License details