Psalm-69

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Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of Thy Law!

Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..

(JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’

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“Tehillim - Psalm 69”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction to Psalm 69:

Psalm 69 is one of the most poignant “Lamentations of the Individual” in the Tanakh. David describes himself as drowning in deep mire where there is no standing. It is a prayer for those who suffer not only from physical affliction but from the “reproach” and isolation that often come with it. It moves from a cry for help to a powerful declaration of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s (God’s) salvation for the poor and the broken-hearted.

Let us now read this long Psalm Chapter 69: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

1. “For the Leader; upon Shoshannim. (A Psalm) of David.
2. Save me, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; for the waters are come in even unto the soul.
3. I am sunk in deep mire, where there is no standing;
I am come into deep waters, and the flood overwhelmeth me.
4. I am weary of my crying; my throat is dried; mine eyes fail while I wait for my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
5. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head;
they that would cut me off, being mine enemies wrongfully, are many; should I restore that which I took not away?
6. O אֱלֹהִים, Thou knowest my folly; and my trespasses are not hid from Thee.
7. Let not them that wait for Thee be ashamed through me, O אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה,צְבָאוֹת - LORD Eohim of hosts;
let not those that seek Thee be brought to confusion through me, O אֱלֹהִים of Israel.
8. Because for Thy sake I have borne reproach; confusion hath covered my face.
9. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
10. Because zeal for Thy house hath eaten me up, and the reproaches of them that reproach Thee are fallen upon me.
11. And I wept with my soul fasting, and that became unto me a reproach.
12. I made sackcloth also my garment, and I became a byword unto them.
13. They that sit in the gate talk of me; and I am the song of the drunkards.
14. But as for me, let my prayer be unto Thee, O יְהוָה - LORD, in an acceptable time; O אֱלֹהִים, in the abundance of Thy mercy,
answer me with the truth of Thy salvation.
15. 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.
16. Let not the waterflood overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up;
and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
17. Answer me, O יְהוָה - LORD, for Thy mercy is good; according to the multitude of Thy compassions turn Thou unto me.
18. And hide not Thy face from Thy servant; for I am in distress; answer me speedily.
19. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it; ransom me because of mine enemies.
20. Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my confusion; mine adversaries are all before Thee.
21. Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am sore sick;
and I looked for some to show compassion, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
22. Yea, they put poison into my food; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
23. Let their table before them become a snare; and when they are in peace, let it become a trap.
24. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to totter.
25. Pour out Thine indignation upon them, and let the fierceness of Thine anger overtake them.
26. Let their encampment be desolate; let none dwell in their tents.
27. For they persecute him whom Thou hast smitten; and they tell of the pain of those whom Thou hast wounded.
28. Add iniquity unto their iniquity; and let them not come into Thy righteousness.
29. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
30. But I am afflicted and in pain; let Thy salvation, O אֱלֹהִים, set me up on high.
31. I will praise the name of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
32. And it shall please יְהוָה - the LORD better than a bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
33. The humble shall see it, and be glad; ye that seek after אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, let your heart revive.
34. For יְהוָה - the LORD hearkeneth unto the needy, and despiseth not His prisoners.
35. Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
36. For אֱלֹהִים will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah; and they shall abide there, and have it in possession.
37. The seed also of His servants shall inherit it; and they that love His name shall dwell therein”.

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Now we will take a look at the ‘verse by verse’ text with explanations:

1. “For the Leader; upon Shoshannim. (A Psalm) of David”.

Explanation: The term Shoshannim refers to “Lilies”, likely a specific musical tune or an instrument shaped like a lily, suggesting a melody of delicate beauty amidst the pain.

2. “Save me, O אֱלֹהִים; for the waters are come in even unto the soul”.

Explanation: David feels he is drowning. The water is not just at his feet; it has reached his “soul”, threatening his very essence.

3. “I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I am come into deep waters, and the flood overwhelmeth me”.

Explanation: He describes total instability. Every step he takes sinks further. There is no firm ground to be found in his current circumstances.

4. “I am weary with my crying; my throat is dried; mine eyes fail while I wait for my אֱלֹהִים”.
He has prayed until he is physically exhausted. His “dried throat" shows the intensity of his petition.

5. “They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; they that would cut me off, being mine enemies wrongfully, are many; should I restore that which I took not away?

Explanation: David suffers from “baseless hatred”. He is being forced to pay for “crimes” he never committed.

6. “O אֱלֹהִים, Thou knowest my folly; and my trespasses are not hid from Thee”.

Explanation: He remains humble. He does not claim to be perfect before אֱלֹהִים, even if he is innocent before his human accusers.

7. “Let not them that wait for Thee be ashamed through me, O אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, צְבָאוֹת - LORD Elohim of hosts; let not them that seek Thee be brought to confusion through me, O אֱלֹהִים of Israel”.

Explanation: David’s greatest fear is that his suffering will discourage other believers. He prays that his life won't become a reason for others to lose faith.

8. “Because for Thy sake I have borne reproach; confusion hath covered my face”.
9. “I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children”.

Explanation: His commitment to אֱלֹהִים has cost him his social standing and his family relationships. He is isolated.

10. “For zeal for Thy house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproach Thee are fallen upon me”.

Explanation: David is so passionate about אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s honour that when others mock אֱלֹהִים, he feels it as a personal wound.

11. “When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach”.
12. “If I made sackcloth my garment, I became a byword unto them”.

Explanation: Even his acts of piety and repentance are mocked by his enemies.

13. “They that sit in the gate talk of me; and I am the song of the drunkards”.

Explanation: The high society (“those at the gate”) and the lowest society (“drunkards”) all make him the object of their gossip.

14. “But as for me, let my prayer be unto Thee, O יְהוָה - LORD, in an acceptable time; O אֱלֹהִים, in the abundance of Thy mercy, answer me with the truth of Thy salvation”.

Explanation: In the face of mockery, David turns only to אֱלֹהִים. He waits for the “acceptable time”, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s perfect timing.

15. “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”.
16. “Let not the waterflood overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me”.

Explanation: “He repeats the “water” imagery, pleading for אֱלֹהִים to stop the “mouth of the pit”, from closing over him forever.

17. “Answer me, O יְהוָה - LORD, for Thy lovingkindness is good; according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies turn Thou unto me”.
18. “And hide not Thy face from Thy servant; for I am in distress; answer me speedily”.

Explanation: He appeals to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Chesed (Loving-kindness). He feels the urgency of his situation and asks for a “speedy” response.

19. “Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it; ransom me because of mine enemies”.

Explanation: He asks for אֱלֹהִים to come close. In the loneliness of suffering, the “nearness” of אֱלֹהִים is the true redemption.

20. “Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my confusion; mine adversaries are all before Thee”.

Explanation: אֱלֹהִים sees everything. Nothing the enemy does is hidden from the Divine Eye.

21. “Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness; and I looked for some to show compassion, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none”.

Explanation: This is one of the saddest verses in the Psalms. David looked for human comfort and found a total void.

22. “They gave me also gall for my food; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink”.

Explanation: Instead of help, his enemies offered him bitterness and further pain.

23. “Let their table before them become a snare; and when they are in peace, let it become a trap”.
24. “Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake”.
25. “Pour out Thine indignation upon them, and let the fierceness of Thine anger overtake them”.
26. “Let their encampment be desolate; let none dwell in their tents”.
27. “For they persecute him whom Thou hast smitten; and they tell of the pain of those whom Thou hast wounded”.
28. “Add iniquity unto their iniquity; and let them not come into Thy righteousness”.
29. “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous”.

(Verses 23–29 ...

Explanation:These are David’s “Imprecatory” pleas. He asks אֱלֹהִים to return the cruelty of the wicked back upon their own heads, removing them from the “Book of Life”.

30. “But I am afflicted and in pain; let Thy salvation, O אֱלֹהִים, set me up on high”.

Explanation: He returns to his own state. He asks to be lifted from the “mire” to a “high place” of safety.

31. “I will praise the name of אֱלֹהִים with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving”.
32. “And it shall please יְהוָה - the LORD better than a bullock, or a full-grown ox with horns and hoofs”.

Explanation: David realizes that a heart full of “thanksgiving” is more precious to אֱלֹהִים than the most expensive animal sacrifices.

33. “The humble shall see it, and be glad; ye that seek after אֱלֹהִים, let your heart revive”.

Explanation: His recovery will be a signal to all “humble” people that אֱלֹהִים is faithful. Their hearts will "revive" when they see David’s deliverance.

34. “For יְהוָה - the LORD hearkeneth unto the needy, and despiseth not His prisoners”.
Explanation: does not look down on those who are "bound" by illness or circumstance; He hears them.

35. “Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein”.
Explanation: The praise expands from David to the entire universe.

36. “For אֱלֹהִים will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah; and they shall abide there, and have it in possession”.
37. “The seed also of His servants shall inherit it; and they that love His Name shall dwell therein”.

Explanation: The Psalm ends with a promise of national restoration. The “seed” of the faithful will find a permanent home in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s presence.

My Closing Message:

Psalm 69 speaks to that moment when we feel the “mire” is too deep and there is “no standing”. But verse 33 gives the promise: “let your heart revive”. Even when human comforters are nowhere to be found, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim “hearkeneth unto the needy”. Should you face any “deep waters” of illness, therefore may your heart find that revival today, and may you be “set on high” far above the pain!

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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,

He is the one who gave us our Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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