Psalm Chapter 69 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
Psalms Chapter 69 (Old Testament)
6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
11 I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
Psalms Chapter 69 (Old Testament)
13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
16 Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.
20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
Psalms Chapter 69
27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
29 But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
33 For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.
Key Takeaways from This Psalm:
Psalm 69:30
Verse: אֲהַלְלָה שִׁמְךָ בְשִׁיר
Transliteration: Ahalleh shimkha b’shir
English: “I will praise the name of God with a song and magnify Him with thanksgiving.”
Focus Word: הָלַל (Halal)
- Root: ה-ל-ל (Heh-Lamed-Lamed)
- Meaning: “To praise,” “to boast,” “to shine.”
- Deeper Insight: Halal conveys joyful, exuberant praise, often publicly expressed in worship.
Biblical Scholars On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 69 |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Scott (University of Edinburgh, 1747–1821) | Commentary on the Holy Bible | Observes that the Psalm models sincere lament and trust in God’s rescue in times of extreme distress. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | Notes that the Psalmist’s suffering demonstrates the necessity of divine aid and patience in affliction. |
| Hugh Binning (University of Glasgow, 1627–1653) | Sermons on the Psalms | Highlights that God’s justice and deliverance are central themes, offering both warning and hope. |
| William Lowth (University of Oxford, 1660–1732) | Commentary on the Psalms | Observes the Psalm contrasts personal anguish with ultimate triumph through God’s mercy. |
| James Durham (St Andrews / Edinburgh, 1622–1658) | Commentary on the Psalms | Notes the Psalm encourages repentance and reliance on God amid persecution. |
| Scholar & Work | View |
|---|---|
| Charles Haddon Spurgeon – Treasury of David | Spurgeon sees this psalm as one of the most vivid portrayals of suffering in Scripture. David is overwhelmed by reproach and rejection, yet he clings to God. Zeal for God’s house intensifies his affliction, pointing forward to Christ. |
| Franz Delitzsch – Commentary on the Psalms | Delitzsch interprets the psalm as a lament springing from deep personal crisis. The psalmist is wearied by false accusations and abandonment. His hope rests in God’s steadfast love. |
| C. F. Keil – Keil & Delitzsch Commentary | Keil views the psalm as expressing extreme distress caused by persecutors. Yet faith refuses to surrender. The psalmist’s zeal for God explains his troubles and strengthens his plea. |
| E. W. Hengstenberg – Commentary on the Psalms | Hengstenberg sees the psalm as uniting personal anguish with Messianic foreshadowing. The righteous sufferer is scorned for God’s sake. Deliverance becomes a testimony to divine faithfulness. |
| J. J. Stewart Perowne – The Psalms | Perowne emphasizes the psalmist’s sinking feeling under overwhelming hostility. The prayer is urgent and passionate. The psalm closes with hope for Zion’s restoration. |
| A. F. Kirkpatrick – Cambridge Bible Commentary | Kirkpatrick interprets the psalm as a cry for help rising from despair. The psalmist’s suffering is intensified by isolation. Yet trust in God remains firm. |
| Albert Barnes – Notes on the Psalms | Barnes reads the psalm as describing distress due to cruel reproach. Tears, fasting, and zeal deepen opposition. God’s rescue will vindicate the sufferer. |
| William Walford – Commentary on the Psalms | Walford sees a mixture of sorrow and steadfast faith. The psalmist appeals to God’s unfailing love. Praise rises after the storm. |
| Thomas Dale – Exposition of the Psalms | Dale views the psalmist’s anguish as heartfelt and sincere. Suffering for God’s sake becomes the central theme. The closing praise anticipates salvation. |
| Christopher Wordsworth – Commentary on the Psalms | Wordsworth interprets the psalm as reflecting Christ’s sufferings through David’s experiences. Scorn and rejection fulfill prophetic pattern. Hope ends the lament. |
