1 [[To the chief Musician H5329 upon Shoshannim, H7799 A Psalm of David.]] H1732 Save H3467 me, O God; H430 for the waters H4325 are come H935 in unto my soul. H5315
2 I sink H2883 in deep H4688 mire, H3121 where there is no standing: H4613 I am come H935 into deep H4615 waters, H4325 where the floods H7641 overflow H7857 me.
3 I am weary H3021 of my crying: H7121 my throat H1627 is dried: H2787 mine eyes H5869 fail H3615 while I wait H3176 for my God. H430
4 They that hate H8130 me without a cause H2600 are more H7231 than the hairs H8185 of mine head: H7218 they that would destroy H6789 me, being mine enemies H341 wrongfully, H8267 are mighty: H6105 then I restored H7725 that which I took not away. H1497
5 O God, H430 thou knowest H3045 my foolishness; H200 and my sins H819 are not hid H3582 from thee.
6 Let not them that wait H6960 on thee, O Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts, H6635 be ashamed H954 for my sake: let not those that seek H1245 thee be confounded H3637 for my sake, O God H430 of Israel. H3478
7 Because for thy sake I have borne H5375 reproach; H2781 shame H3639 hath covered H3680 my face. H6440
8 I am become a stranger H2114 unto my brethren, H251 and an alien H5237 unto my mother's H517 children. H1121
9 For the zeal H7068 of thine house H1004 hath eaten me up; H398 and the reproaches H2781 of them that reproached H2778 thee are fallen H5307 upon me.
10 When I wept, H1058 and chastened my soul H5315 with fasting, H6685 that was to my reproach. H2781
11 I made H5414 sackcloth H8242 also my garment; H3830 and I became a proverb H4912 to them.
12 They that sit in H3427 the gate H8179 speak H7878 against me; and I was the song H5058 of the drunkards. H8354 H7941
13 But as for me, my prayer H8605 is unto thee, O LORD, H3068 in an acceptable H7522 time: H6256 O God, H430 in the multitude H7230 of thy mercy H2617 hear H6030 me, in the truth H571 of thy salvation. H3468
14 Deliver H5337 me out of the mire, H2916 and let me not sink: H2883 let me be delivered H5337 from them that hate H8130 me, and out of the deep H4615 waters. H4325
15 Let not the waterflood H4325 H7641 overflow H7857 me, neither let the deep H4688 swallow me up, H1104 and let not the pit H875 shut H332 her mouth H6310 upon me.
16 Hear H6030 me, O LORD; H3068 for thy lovingkindness H2617 is good: H2896 turn H6437 unto me according to the multitude H7230 of thy tender mercies. H7356
17 And hide H5641 not thy face H6440 from thy servant; H5650 for I am in trouble: H6887 hear H6030 me speedily. H4118
18 Draw nigh H7126 unto my soul, H5315 and redeem H1350 it: deliver H6299 me because of mine enemies. H341
19 Thou hast known H3045 my reproach, H2781 and my shame, H1322 and my dishonour: H3639 mine adversaries H6887 are all before thee.
20 Reproach H2781 hath broken H7665 my heart; H3820 and I am full of heaviness: H5136 and I looked H6960 for some to take pity, H5110 but there was none; and for comforters, H5162 but I found H4672 none.
21 They gave H5414 me also gall H7219 for my meat; H1267 and in my thirst H6772 they gave me vinegar H2558 to drink. H8248
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 69
Commentary on Psalms 69 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 69
Ps 69:1-36. Upon Shoshannim—(See on Ps 45:1, title). Mingling the language of prayer and complaint, the sufferer, whose condition is here set forth, pleads for God's help as one suffering in His cause, implores the divine retribution on his malicious enemies, and, viewing his deliverance as sure, promises praise by himself, and others, to whom God will extend like blessings. This Psalm is referred to seven times in the New Testament as prophetical of Christ and the gospel times. Although the character in which the Psalmist appears to some in Ps 69:5 is that of a sinner, yet his condition as a sufferer innocent of alleged crimes sustains the typical character of the composition, and it may be therefore regarded throughout, as the twenty-second, as typically expressive of the feelings of our Saviour in the flesh.
1, 2. (Compare Ps 40:2).
come in unto my soul—literally, "come even to my soul," endanger my life by drowning (Jon 2:5).
3. (Compare Ps 6:6).
mine eyes fail—in watching (Ps 119:82).
4. hate me, &c.—(Compare Joh 15:25). On the number and power of his enemies (compare Ps 40:12).
then I restored … away—that is, he suffered wrongfully under the imputation of robbery.
5. This may be regarded as an appeal, vindicating his innocence, as if he had said, "If sinful, thou knowest," &c. Though David's condition as a sufferer may typify Christ's, without requiring that a parallel be found in character.
6. for my sake—literally, "in me," in my confusion and shame.
7-12. This plea contemplates his relation to God as a sufferer in His cause. Reproach, domestic estrangement (Mr 3:21; Joh 7:5), exhaustion in God's service (Joh 2:17), revilings and taunts of base men were the sufferings.
10. wept (and chastened) my soul—literally, "wept away my soul," a strongly figurative description of deep grief.
12. sit in the gate—public place (Pr 31:31).
13-15. With increasing reliance on God, he prays for help, describing his distress in the figures of Ps 69:1, 2.
16-18. These earnest terms are often used, and the address to God, as indifferent or averse, is found in Ps 3:7; 22:24; 27:9, &c.
19, 20. Calling God to witness his distress, he presents its aggravation produced by the want of sympathizing friends (compare Isa 63:5; Mr 14:50).
21. Instead of such, his enemies increase his pain by giving him most distasteful food and drink. The Psalmist may have thus described by figure what Christ found in reality (compare Joh 19:29, 30).
22, 23. With unimportant verbal changes, this language is used by Paul to describe the rejection of the Jews who refused to receive the Saviour (Ro 11:9, 10). The purport of the figures used is that blessings shall become curses, the "table" of joy (as one of food) a "snare," their
welfare—literally, "peaceful condition," or security, a "trap." Darkened eyes and failing strength complete the picture of the ruin falling on them under the invoked retribution.
23. continually to shake—literally, "to swerve" or bend in weakness.
24, 25. An utter desolation awaits them. They will not only be driven from their homes, but their homes—or, literally, "palaces," indicative of wealth—shall be desolate (compare Mt 23:38).
26. Though smitten of God (Isa 53:4), men were not less guilty in persecuting the sufferer (Ac 2:23).
talk to the grief—in respect to, about it, implying derision and taunts.
wounded—or, literally, "mortally wounded."
27, 28. iniquity—or, "punishment of iniquity" (Ps 40:12).
come … righteousness—partake of its benefits.
28. book of the living—or "life," with the next clause, a figurative mode of representing those saved, as having their names in a register (compare Ex 32:32; Isa 4:3).
29. poor and sorrowful—the afflicted pious, often denoted by such terms (compare Ps 10:17; 12:5).
set me … high—out of danger.
30, 31. Spiritual are better than mere material offerings (Ps 40:6; 50:8); hence a promise of the former, and rather contemptuous terms are used of the latter.
32, 33. Others shall rejoice. "Humble" and poor, as in Ps 69:29.
your heart, &c.—address to such (compare Ps 22:26).
33. prisoners—peculiarly liable to be despised.
34-36. The call on the universe for praise is well sustained by the prediction of the perpetual and extended blessings which shall come upon the covenant-people of God. Though, as usual, the imagery is taken from terms used of Palestine, the whole tenor of the context indicates that the spiritual privileges and blessings of the Church are meant.