Psalms 69 · Verse 1

Psalms 69:1

To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
Psalms 69:1, King James Version

Psalms 69:1 in other translations

BSBFor the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.
WEBFor the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Lilies.” By David. Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!
ASVFor the Chief Musician; set to Shoshannim. A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; For the waters are come in unto my soul.
YLTTo the Overseer. --‘On the Lilies,' by David. Save me, O God, for come have waters unto the soul.
DARBYTo the chief Musician. Upon Shoshannim. A Psalm of David. Save me, OGod; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
BBEBe my saviour, O God; because the waters have come in, even to my neck.
WebsterTo the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in to my soul.

What does Psalms 69:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 69:1-2

Psa 69:1-36. Upon Shoshannim--(See on Psa 45:1, title). Mingling the language of prayer and complaint, the sufferer, whose condition is here set forth, pleads for God's help as one suffering in His cause, implores the divine retribution on his malicious enemies, and, viewing his deliverance as sure, promises praise by himself, and others, to whom God will extend like blessings. This Psalm is referred to seven times in the New Testament as prophetical of Christ and the gospel times. Although the character in which the Psalmist appears to some in Psa 69:5 is that of a sinner, yet his condition as a sufferer innocent of alleged crimes sustains the typical character of the composition, and it may be therefore regarded throughout, as the twenty-second, as typically expressive of the feelings of our Saviour in the flesh.

1-2. (Compare Psa 40:2). come in unto my soul--literally, "come even to my soul," endanger my life by drowning (Jon 2:5).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The psalmist describes his afflicted state, and the wickedness of his adversaries, vv. 1-21; he declares the miseries that should come upon his enemies, Psa 69:22-28; enlarges on has afflicted state, and expresses his confidence in God, Psa 69:29-34; prophesies the restoration of the Jews to their own land and temple, Psa 69:35, Psa 69:36. The title is: "To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David." See this title explained on Psalm 45 (note). The Psalm is supposed to have been written during the captivity, and to have been the work of some Levite Divinely inspired. It is a very fine composition, equal to most in the Psalter. Several portions of it seem to have a reference to our Lord; to his advent passion, resurrection, the vocation of the Gentiles, the establishment of the Christian Church, and the reprobation of the Jews. The ninth verse is quoted by St. John, Joh 2:17. The twenty-first verse is quoted by St. Matthew, Mat 27:34, Mat 27:48; by St. Mark, Mar 15:23; by St. John, Joh 19:29; and applied to the sufferings of our Lord, in the treatment he received from the Jews. St. Paul quotes the twenty-second as a prophecy of the wickedness of the Jews, and the punishment they were to receive. He quotes the twenty-third verse in the same way. See Isa 6:9-10 (note); Joh 12:39-40 (note); Rom 11:10 (note); 2Cor 3:14 (note). Those portions which the writers of the New Testament apply to our Lord, we may apply also; of others we should be careful. Verse 1 The waters are come in unto my soul - I am in the deepest distress. The waters have broken their dikes, and are just ready to sweep me away! Save me, Lord! In such circumstances I can have no other help. In the first, second, third, fourteenth, and fifteenth verses, the psalmist, speaking in the person of the captives in Babylon, compares their captivity to an abyss of waters, breaking all bounds, and ready to swallow them up; to a deep mire, in which there was no solid bottom, and no standing; and to a pot. in which they were about to be inclosed for ever. This is strongly figurative, and very expressive.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Psalms 69:1-12
We should frequently consider the person of the Sufferer here spoken of, and ask why, as well as what he suffered, that, meditating thereon, we may be more humbled for sin, and more convinced of our danger, so that we may feel more gratitude and love, constraining us to live to His glory who died for our salvation. Hence we learn, when in affliction, to commit the keeping of our souls to God, that we may not be soured with discontent, or sink into despair. David was hated wrongfully, but the words far more fully apply to Christ. In a world where unrighteousness reigns so much, we must not wonder if we meet with those that are our enemies wrongfully. Let us take care that we never do wrong; then if we receive wrong, we may the better bear it. By the satisfaction Christ made to God for our sin by his blood, he restored that which he took not away, he paid our debt, suffered for our offences. Even when we can plead Not guilty, as to men's unjust accusations, yet before God we must acknowledge ourselves to deserve all that is brought upon us. All our sins take rise from our foolishness. They are all done in God's sight. David complains of the unkindness of friends and relations. This was fulfilled in Christ, whose brethren did not believe on him, and who was forsaken by his disciples. Christ made satisfaction for us, not only by putting off the honours due to God, but by submitting to the greatest dishonours that could be done to any man. We need not be discouraged if our zeal for the truths, precepts, and worship of God, should provoke some, and cause others to mock our godly sorrow and deadness to the world.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Psalms 69:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נִיho.shi.'E.nisave meH3467
אֱלֹהִ֑ים'E.lo.HimO GodH430
כִּ֤יkiforH3588
בָ֖אוּVa.'uthey have comeH935
מַ֣יִםMa.yimwatersH4325
עַד\־'ad-toH5704
נָֽפֶשׁ\׃Na.fesh[the] neckH5315

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Psalms 69:1

  • Psalms 69:14-15

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

  • Isaiah 43:2

    When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

  • Lamentations 3:54

    Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.

  • Revelation 12:15-16

    And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

  • Revelation 17:15

    And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

  • Jonah 2:3-5

    For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

  • Psalms 42:7

    Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

  • Psalms 69:2

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

  • Psalms 32:6

    For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

  • Psalms 18:4

    The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.

  • Psalms 45:1

    To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

  • Psalms 60:1

    To the chief Musician upon Shushan–eduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aram–naharaim and with Aram–zobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 David complains of his affliction.
13 He prays for deliverance.
22 He devotes his enemies to destruction.
30 He praises God with thanksgiving.

(Title.) Shoshannim.
45:1; 60:1; 80:1; *titles
A Psalm.It is uncertain when this Psalm was composed; though it is probable that it was written by David during the rebellion of Absalom. It is an exceedingly fine composition; it evidently refers to the advent, passion, and resurrection of our Lord, to the vocation of the Gentiles, and the reprobation of Jews: See the Marginal References.
the waters.
2,14,15; 18:4; 42:7; Isa 28:17; 43:2; La 3:54; Jon 2:3-5
Re 12:15,16; 17:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Psalms 69:1

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

  • Psalms 69:2

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

Read all of Psalms 69

Psalms 69:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Al Músico principal: sobre Sosannim: Salmo de David. SÁLVAME, oh Dios, porque las aguas han entrado hasta el alma.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Au chef de musique. Sur Shoshannim. De David.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Rette mich, o Gott! denn die Wasser sind bis an die Seele gekommen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		In finem. Psalmus David in rememorationem, quod salvum fecerit eum Dominus.