- 1To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save 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.
- 9For 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.
- 17And 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.
- 25Let 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.
- 33For 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.
KING JAMES VERSION
PSALMS 69
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
Psalms 69 — Overwhelmed by reproach and hatred, David pleads for rescue, entrusts judgment to God, and ends in praise with the humble.
About this illustration
The mire, flood, gall, and broken heart are symbolic and restrained; later New Testament associations are not reenacted here.
Scripture basis: Psalms 69:1–36King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Late first century BC to early first century AD copy
The Thanksgiving Hymns Scroll (1QHᵃ)
A large Cave 1 collection of Hebrew prayers and hymns shows biblical poetic language being reused in Second Temple worship and personal confession.
Psalms 40:1–17 · Psalms 69:1–36 · Psalms 139:1–24
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
Middle of the ninth century AD
The Chludov Psalter (State Historical Museum Gr. 129)
The Chludov Psalter (State Historical Museum Gr. 129) is a distinct physical witness to the material transmission and reception of Scripture, identified by its own shelfmark, date, contents, and custodial history.
Psalms 69:19–21 · John 19:28–30
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
200–100 BC
4QPsalmsa (4Q83): A Non-Canonical Psalm Sequence
A broad second-century BC Psalms manuscript preserves many biblical psalms in an order different from the later canonical sequence.
Psalms 5:8–12 · Psalms 25:8–15 · Psalms 35:13–18
Prophecy Events
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
30
Psalms 69:21Gall and Vinegar Offered to the Sufferer
Psalm 69 says the afflicted righteous sufferer receives gall for food and vinegar in thirst.
Conflictvinegargallthirstcrucifixion
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
28
Psalms 69:4Hated Without a Cause
Psalm 69 portrays the faithful sufferer surrounded by numerous enemies who hate him without cause.
Conflicthatredrighteous suffereroppositionMessiah
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
28
Psalms 69:8Rejected by His Own Brothers
Psalm 69 portrays the righteous sufferer as estranged from his brothers and treated as a stranger by his own family.
Conflictrejectionbrothers of Jesusunbeliefpublic ministry
PROPHECY EVENTFulfilled
28
Psalms 69:9Zeal for God’s House
Psalm 69 describes consuming zeal for God’s house and the reproaches borne by the faithful servant.
Prophetic signTemplezealreproachministry
Sermons
Spiritual Heaviness
In “Spiritual Heaviness,” Pastor Dean Odle presents a Scripture-centered message about demons and deliverance, Satanic opposition, idolatry and occult influence. Drawing especially from Psalm 69:20, Romans 9:2, Philippians 2:26, James 4:9, the teaching emphasizes that demonic influence must be answered through Christ’s authority and the freedom He provides. Odle connects that foundation with the conviction that Satan’s work is described through deception, accusation, temptation, and opposition to God’s purposes.
Spiritual WarfareMarriage and Family
View sermon Apologetics #3 - The Divine Inspiration of the Bible (Part 2)
In “Apologetics #3 - The Divine Inspiration of the Bible (Part 2),” Pastor Dean Odle presents a Scripture-centered message about Bible prophecy, the authority of Scripture, Israel in prophecy. Drawing especially from Luke 24:44, Genesis 3:15, Genesis 18:18, Matthew 1:1, the teaching emphasizes that prophecy should produce discernment, readiness, and faithfulness rather than speculation alone. Odle connects that foundation with the conviction that Scripture is presented as the standard for doctrine, discernment, and daily obedience.
Bible ProphecyScripture AloneIsrael and Jerusalem
View sermon