Brown floodwater rising in a dark rock gorge under heavy overcast, foam and broken branches low in the frame, the sky above flat and gray.

Lament · David

Psalm 69

For the day the water is at your chin. Few psalms are quoted more in the New Testament, and by the end you will see why.

36 verses≈ 5 min1 personBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressurePsalm 69
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom falls
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last Hallelujah

The Waters Are up to My Neck

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.

Save me, O God,

for the waters are up to my neck.

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You know my folly, O God,

and my guilt is not hidden from You.

May those who hope in You not be ashamed through me,

O Lord GOD of Hosts;

may those who seek You not be dishonored through me,

O God of Israel.

For I have endured scorn for Your sake,

and shame has covered my face.

I have become a stranger to my brothers

and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

because zeal for Your house has consumed me,

and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

zeal for Your house has consumed me

At a small town gate, men on stone benches laugh and point at a man in rough dark sackcloth, seen from behind, walking past.

I wept and fasted,

but it brought me reproach.

I made sackcloth my clothing,

and I was sport to them.

Those who sit at the gate mock me,

and I am the song of drunkards.

Reflect

For Your sake

David says, “I have endured scorn for Your sake.” Have you ever paid for doing right? Tell God how it felt.

Looking up from black water inside a rock-cut shaft, a bright round mouth far above and dripping stone walls.

But my prayer to You, O LORD,

is for a time of favor.

In Your abundant loving devotion, O God,

answer me with Your sure salvation.

Rescue me from the mire

and do not let me sink;

deliver me from my foes

and out of the deep waters.

Do not let the floods engulf me

or the depths swallow me up;

let not the Pit close its mouth over me.

0:22

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Answer me, O LORD,

for Your loving devotion is good;

turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.

Hide not Your face from Your servant,

for I am in distress.

Answer me quickly!

Draw near to my soul and redeem me;

ransom me because of my foes.

You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace.

All my adversaries are before You.

Insults have broken my heart,

and I am in despair.

I looked for sympathy, but there was none,

for comforters, but I found no one.

They poisoned my food with gall

and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

May their table become a snare;

may it be a retribution and a trap.

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,

and their backs be bent forever.

Pour out Your wrath upon them,

and let Your burning anger overtake them.

An abandoned camp of black goat-hair tents, one collapsed, ropes loose in the wind and drifted sand in a doorway.

May their place be deserted;

let there be no one to dwell in their tents.

For they persecute the one You struck

and recount the pain of those You wounded.

Add iniquity to their iniquity;

let them not share in Your righteousness.

May they be blotted out of the Book of Life

and not listed with the righteous.

Where the New Testament hears Psalm 69

Whiteboard

David prayed it first. The Gospels, Acts and Paul keep coming back to it.

But I am in pain and distress;

let Your salvation protect me, O God.

A simple wooden lyre resting on a rough stone bench in soft evening light, a folded wool cloak beside it.

I will praise God’s name in song

and exalt Him with thanksgiving.

And this will please the LORD more than an ox,

more than a bull with horns and hooves.

The humble will see and rejoice.

You who seek God, let your hearts be revived!

For the LORD listens to the needy

and does not despise His captive people.

Let heaven and earth praise Him,

the seas and everything that moves in them.

For God will save Zion

and rebuild the cities of Judah,

that they may dwell there and possess it.

The descendants of His servants will inherit it,

and those who love His name will settle in it.

Pray

When there is no comforter

David asks, “let Your salvation protect me, O God.” Pray verse 29 for yourself, or for someone in deep water today.

You’ve experienced

Psalm 69

0 of 150 psalms read

A verse to carry with you

Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.

Psalm 69:1

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