The big picture
Psalms 69 opens in verse 1 with “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 18 with “Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.”, and closes in verse 36 with “The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, deep, reproach, become, dwell. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Psalms · King James Version · 36Psalms 69:1-8
1–8: Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
Psalms 69:1–8 opens with “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.” and reaches “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 69 develops its own movement around LORD, deep, reproach, become, dwell, with particular weight carried by sake, deep, wait.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.” By verse 4, the text has turned to “They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would…” It lands on “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 4 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as sake, deep, wait, waters, alien, ashamed tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 69 develops its own movement around LORD, deep, reproach, become, dwell,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Because, Israel, Lord, Save. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 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…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: sake, deep, wait, waters, alien, ashamed
Verse-by-verse path
- Psalms 69:1
“Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.” Naming Save keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 69:2
“I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include deep, floods, mire. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:3
“I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
- Psalms 69:4
“They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cause, destroy, enemies. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:5
“O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
- Psalms 69:6
“Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 69:7
“Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Psalms 69:8
“I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.” The line’s distinctive content terms include alien, become, brethren. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.
Psalms 69:1-8
King James Version1Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
2I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
3I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
4They 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.
5O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
6Let 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.
7Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
8I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.
Psalms 69:9-16
9–16: For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them…
Psalms 69:9–16 opens with “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee…” and reaches “Hear me, O LORD ; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 69 develops its own movement around LORD, deep, reproach, become, dwell, with particular weight carried by deep, hear, LORD.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached…” By verse 12, the text has turned to “They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.” It lands on “Hear me, O LORD ; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as deep, hear, LORD, multitude, acceptable, became tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 69 develops its own movement around LORD, deep, reproach, become, dwell,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Deliver, God, Hear. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 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…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: deep, hear, LORD, multitude, acceptable, became
Verse-by-verse path
- Psalms 69:9
“For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Psalms 69:10
“When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.” The line’s distinctive content terms include chastened, fasting, reproach. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:11
“I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include became, garment, proverb. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:12
“They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.” The line’s distinctive content terms include drunkards, gate, song. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:13
“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…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
- Psalms 69:14
“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…” Naming Deliver keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 69:15
“Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include deep, mouth, overflow. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:16
“Hear me, O LORD ; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 69:9-16
King James Version9For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
10When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
11I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
12They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
13But 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.
14Deliver 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.
15Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
16Hear me, O LORD ; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
Psalms 69:17-24
17–24: Hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me…
Psalms 69:17–24 opens with “And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.” and reaches “Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 69 develops its own movement around LORD, deep, reproach, become, dwell, with particular weight carried by become, gave, reproach.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.” By verse 20, the text has turned to “Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take…” It lands on “Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as become, gave, reproach, adversaries, anger, broken tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 69 develops its own movement around LORD, deep, reproach, become, dwell,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Draw, Pour, Reproach, Thou. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 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…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: become, gave, reproach, adversaries, anger, broken
Verse-by-verse path
- Psalms 69:17
“And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.” The line’s distinctive content terms include face, hear, hide. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:18
“Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.” Naming Draw keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 69:19
“Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 69:20
“Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and…” Naming Reproach keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 69:21
“They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” The line’s distinctive content terms include gave, drink, gall. Its relationship to verses 20 and 22 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:22
“Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.” The line’s distinctive content terms include become, snare, table. Its relationship to verses 21 and 23 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:23
“Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.” The line’s distinctive content terms include continually, darkened, eyes. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:24
“Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.” Naming Pour keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Psalms 69:17-24
King James Version17And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
18Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
19Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.
20Reproach 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.
21They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
23Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
24Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
Psalms 69:25-32
25–32: Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
Psalms 69:25–32 opens with “Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.” and reaches “The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 69 develops its own movement around LORD, deep, reproach, become, dwell, with particular weight carried by iniquity, better, blotted.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.” By verse 28, the text has turned to “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.” It lands on “The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 4 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as iniquity, better, blotted, book, bullock, desolate tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 69 develops its own movement around LORD, deep, reproach, become, dwell,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Add. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 29: “But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: iniquity, better, blotted, book, bullock, desolate
Verse-by-verse path
- Psalms 69:25
“Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.” The line’s distinctive content terms include desolate, dwell, habitation. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:26
“For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Psalms 69:27
“Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.” Naming Add keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Psalms 69:28
“Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.” The line’s distinctive content terms include blotted, book, living. Its relationship to verses 27 and 29 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:29
“But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
- Psalms 69:30
“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
- Psalms 69:31
“This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Psalms 69:32
“The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Psalms 69:25-32
King James Version25Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
26For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
27Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
28Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
29But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
30I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
32The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
Psalms 69:33-36
33–36: For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
Psalms 69:33–36 opens with “For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.” and reaches “The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Psalms 69 develops its own movement around LORD, deep, reproach, become, dwell, with particular weight carried by dwell, build, cities.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.” By verse 34, the text has turned to “Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.” It lands on “The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Speaker, parallel lines, images, emotional movement, and changes in voice carry the argument. Wise guidance is richer than a mechanical promise. Words such as dwell, build, cities, despiseth, earth, heareth tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Psalms 69 develops its own movement around LORD, deep, reproach, become, dwell,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Judah, Zion. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 34: “Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: dwell, build, cities, despiseth, earth, heareth
Verse-by-verse path
- Psalms 69:33
“For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Psalms 69:34
“Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, heaven, moveth. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Psalms 69:35
“For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Psalms 69:36
“The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.
Psalms 69:33-36
King James Version33For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
34Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
35For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
36The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Follow the speaker, images, parallel lines, questions, and emotional movement.
- Notice where tension or suffering resists an easy answer.
- Read a saying as wisdom for faithful discernment, not as a mechanical promise detached from context.
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Psalms 69?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of Psalms 69 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Psalms 69 develops its own movement around LORD, deep, reproach, become, dwell?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?
