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Christian prayer

Psalm 69

Psalm 69 from the Bible, with its original text and meaning.

  • 36 verses
  • About 2 minutes to recite
  • From the Bible
  1. 1

    To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

  2. 2

    I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

  3. 3

    I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

  4. 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, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

  5. 5

    O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.

  6. 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 confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

  7. 7

    Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

  8. 8

    I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.

  9. 9

    For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

  10. 10

    When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

  11. 11

    I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

  12. 12

    They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

  13. 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 of thy salvation.

  14. 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 waters.

  15. 15

    Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

  16. 16

    Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

  17. 17

    And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.

  18. 18

    Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.

  19. 19

    Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.

  20. 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 comforters, but I found none.

  21. 21

    They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

  22. 22

    Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.

  23. 23

    Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

  24. 24

    Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

  25. 25

    Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.

  26. 26

    For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.

  27. 27

    Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.

  28. 28

    Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

  29. 29

    But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.

  30. 30

    I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

  31. 31

    This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

  32. 32

    The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

  33. 33

    For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.

  34. 34

    Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.

  35. 35

    For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.

  36. 36

    The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

The Hebrew original

1 לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ עַֽל־שׁוֹשַׁנִּ֬ים לְדָוִֽד׃

2 הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֤י בָ֖אוּ מַ֣יִם עַד־נָֽפֶשׁ׃

3 טָבַ֤עְתִּי ׀ בִּיוֵ֣ן מְ֭צוּלָה וְאֵ֣ין מָעֳמָ֑ד בָּ֥אתִי בְמַעֲמַקֵּי־מַ֝֗יִם וְשִׁבֹּ֥לֶת שְׁטָפָֽתְנִי׃

4 יָגַ֣עְתִּי בְקָרְאִי֮ נִחַ֪ר גְּר֫וֹנִ֥י כָּל֥וּ עֵינַ֑י מְ֝יַחֵ֗ל לֵאלֹהָֽי׃

5 רַבּ֤וּ ׀ מִשַּׂעֲר֣וֹת רֹאשִׁי֮ שֹׂנְאַ֪י חִ֫נָּ֥ם עָצְמ֣וּ מַ֭צְמִיתַי אֹיְבַ֣י שֶׁ֑קֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־גָ֝זַ֗לְתִּי אָ֣ז אָשִֽׁיב׃

6 אֱֽלֹהִ֗ים אַתָּ֣ה יָ֭דַעְתָּ לְאִוַּלְתִּ֑י וְ֝אַשְׁמוֹתַ֗י מִמְּךָ֥ לֹא־נִכְחָֽדוּ׃

7 אַל־יֵ֘בֹ֤שׁוּ בִ֨י ׀ קֹוֶיךָ֮ אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֗ה צְבָ֫א֥וֹת אַל־יִכָּ֣לְמוּ בִ֣י מְבַקְשֶׁ֑יךָ אֱ֝לֹהֵ֗י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

8 כִּֽי־עָ֭לֶיךָ נָשָׂ֣אתִי חֶרְפָּ֑ה כִּסְּתָ֖ה כְלִמָּ֣ה פָנָֽי׃

9 מ֭וּזָר הָיִ֣יתִי לְאֶחָ֑י וְ֝נָכְרִ֗י לִבְנֵ֥י אִמִּֽי׃

10 כִּֽי־קִנְאַ֣ת בֵּיתְךָ֣ אֲכָלָ֑תְנִי וְחֶרְפּ֥וֹת ח֝וֹרְפֶ֗יךָ נָפְל֥וּ עָלָֽי׃

11 וָאֶבְכֶּ֣ה בַצּ֣וֹם נַפְשִׁ֑י וַתְּהִ֖י לַחֲרָפ֣וֹת לִֽי׃

12 וָאֶתְּנָ֣ה לְבוּשִׁ֣י שָׂ֑ק וָאֱהִ֖י לָהֶ֣ם לְמָשָֽׁל׃

13 יָשִׂ֣יחוּ בִ֭י יֹ֣שְׁבֵי שָׁ֑עַר וּ֝נְגִינ֗וֹת שׁוֹתֵ֥י שֵׁכָֽר׃

14 וַאֲנִ֤י תְפִלָּתִֽי־לְךָ֨ ׀ יְהוָ֡ה עֵ֤ת רָצ֗וֹן אֱלֹהִ֥ים בְּרָב־חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ עֲ֝נֵ֗נִי בֶּאֱמֶ֥ת יִשְׁעֶֽךָ׃

15 הַצִּילֵ֣נִי מִ֭טִּיט וְאַל־אֶטְבָּ֑עָה אִנָּצְלָ֥ה מִ֝שֹּֽׂנְאַ֗י וּמִמַּֽעֲמַקֵּי־מָֽיִם׃

16 אַל־תִּשְׁטְפֵ֤נִי ׀ שִׁבֹּ֣לֶת מַ֭יִם וְאַל־תִּבְלָעֵ֣נִי מְצוּלָ֑ה וְאַל־תֶּאְטַר־עָלַ֖י בְּאֵ֣ר פִּֽיהָ׃

17 עֲנֵ֣נִי יְ֭הוָה כִּי־ט֣וֹב חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ כְּרֹ֥ב רַ֝חֲמֶ֗יךָ פְּנֵ֣ה אֵלָֽי׃

18 וְאַל־תַּסְתֵּ֣ר פָּ֭נֶיךָ מֵֽעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּֽי־צַר־לִ֝֗י מַהֵ֥ר עֲנֵֽנִי׃

19 קָרְבָ֣ה אֶל־נַפְשִׁ֣י גְאָלָ֑הּ לְמַ֖עַן אֹיְבַ֣י פְּדֵֽנִי׃

20 אַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֗עְתָּ חֶרְפָּתִ֣י וּ֭בָשְׁתִּי וּכְלִמָּתִ֑י נֶ֝גְדְּךָ֗ כָּל־צוֹרְרָֽי׃

21 חֶרְפָּ֤ה ׀ שָֽׁבְרָ֥ה לִבִּ֗י וָֽאָ֫נ֥וּשָׁה וָאֲקַוֶּ֣ה לָנ֣וּד וָאַ֑יִן וְ֝לַמְנַחֲמִ֗ים וְלֹ֣א מָצָֽאתִי׃

22 וַיִּתְּנ֣וּ בְּבָרוּתִ֣י רֹ֑אשׁ וְ֝לִצְמָאִ֗י יַשְׁק֥וּנִי חֹֽמֶץ׃

23 יְהִֽי־שֻׁלְחָנָ֣ם לִפְנֵיהֶ֣ם לְפָ֑ח וְלִשְׁלוֹמִ֥ים לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃

24 תֶּחְשַׁ֣כְנָה עֵ֭ינֵיהֶם מֵרְא֑וֹת וּ֝מָתְנֵ֗יהֶם תָּמִ֥יד הַמְעַֽד׃

25 שְׁפָךְ־עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם זַעְמֶ֑ךָ וַחֲר֥וֹן אַ֝פְּךָ֗ יַשִּׂיגֵֽם׃

26 תְּהִי־טִֽירָתָ֥ם נְשַׁמָּ֑ה בְּ֝אָהֳלֵיהֶ֗ם אַל־יְהִ֥י יֹשֵֽׁב׃

27 כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־הִכִּ֣יתָ רָדָ֑פוּ וְאֶל־מַכְא֖וֹב חֲלָלֶ֣יךָ יְסַפֵּֽרוּ׃

28 תְּֽנָה־עָ֭וֺן עַל־עֲוֺנָ֑ם וְאַל־יָ֝בֹ֗אוּ בְּצִדְקָתֶֽךָ׃

29 יִ֭מָּחֽוּ מִסֵּ֣פֶר חַיִּ֑ים וְעִ֥ם צַ֝דִּיקִ֗ים אַל־יִכָּתֵֽבוּ׃

30 וַ֭אֲנִי עָנִ֣י וְכוֹאֵ֑ב יְשׁוּעָתְךָ֖ אֱלֹהִ֣ים תְּשַׂגְּבֵֽנִי׃

31 אֲהַֽלְלָ֣ה שֵׁם־אֱלֹהִ֣ים בְּשִׁ֑יר וַאֲגַדְּלֶ֥נּוּ בְתוֹדָֽה׃

32 וְתִיטַ֣ב לַֽ֭יהוָה מִשּׁ֥וֹר פָּ֗ר מַקְרִ֥ן מַפְרִֽיס׃

33 רָא֣וּ עֲנָוִ֣ים יִשְׂמָ֑חוּ דֹּרְשֵׁ֥י אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים וִיחִ֥י לְבַבְכֶֽם׃

34 כִּֽי־שֹׁמֵ֣עַ אֶל־אֶבְיוֹנִ֣ים יְהוָ֑ה וְאֶת־אֲ֝סִירָ֗יו לֹ֣א בָזָֽה׃

35 יְֽ֭הַלְלוּהוּ שָׁמַ֣יִם וָאָ֑רֶץ יַ֝מִּ֗ים וְֽכָל־רֹמֵ֥שׂ בָּֽם׃

36 כִּ֤י אֱלֹהִ֨ים ׀ י֘וֹשִׁ֤יעַ צִיּ֗וֹן וְ֭יִבְנֶה עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה וְיָ֥שְׁבוּ שָׁ֝֗ם וִירֵשֽׁוּהָ׃

37 וְזֶ֣רַע עֲ֭בָדָיו יִנְחָל֑וּהָ וְאֹהֲבֵ֥י שְׁ֝מ֗וֹ יִשְׁכְּנוּ־בָֽהּ׃

Wording: The Holy Bible, King James Version, 1611 (standard text of 1769). Copied word for word from the edition named here

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When it is prayed

Many Christians pray Psalm 69 in times of distress, rejection or unjust treatment, using its words to bring their pain before God. In the Christian tradition, it is also read in connection with the suffering of Jesus, especially during Holy Week. Its movement toward praise offers words for hope even while trouble remains.

  • In distress
  • Facing rejection
  • Holy Week
  • Personal prayer

Where it comes from

Psalm 69 comes from the Book of Psalms in the Bible and is traditionally attributed to David. Its original language is Hebrew. The New Testament draws on this psalm in passages connected with Jesus, which has shaped its place in Christian prayer and interpretation.

In the libraryThe King James Version of the BibleSee the book

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Questions about Psalm 69

How many verses does Psalm 69 have?

Psalm 69 has 36 verses.

What is Psalm 69 about?

It is a prayer from someone overwhelmed by suffering and hostility, asking God to hear and rescue them. It includes forceful appeals for judgment against enemies and ends in praise and hope for God's people.

Who wrote Psalm 69?

Psalm 69 is traditionally attributed to David. That attribution does not establish its precise date of composition.

Why is Psalm 69 associated with Jesus?

The New Testament uses language from this psalm in connection with Jesus, including his zeal for God's house and the offering of sour wine during his crucifixion. Christians therefore often read it alongside accounts of his suffering.

How long does it take to recite?

It takes about 2 minutes to recite, though the pace may vary, especially when pausing for reflection.

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