1.
Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
Title. A Psalm. No Hebrew for this.
of David. Relating to the true David, Israel's Redeemer. Psalms 22 is Christ as the sin offering; Psalms 40 as the whole burnt offering ; and this, Psalms 69 as the trespass offering. Verse prefers to John 15:25 ; verses: Psalms 69:14-20 refer to Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-45 ); Psalms 69:21 to the Cross (Matthew 27:34 , Matthew 27:48 . John 19:29 ); verses: Psalms 69:22-28 to Romans 11:9 , Romans 11:10 ; Rom 69:25 to Judas (Acts 1:20 ).
God. Hebrew. Elohim.
waters. Put by Figure of speech Hypocatastasis ( App-6 ) for great troubles.
come in unto my soul: i.e. threaten my life.
my soul = me (emphatic). Hebrew. nephesh, App-13 .
2.
I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
sink = have sunk.
mire. See note on waters, Psalms 69:1 .
3.
I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
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.
hate me without a cause. Compare Psalms 35:19 . Quoted in John 15:25 .
mighty. The Syriac, by supplying the letter Ayin, reads "stronger than my bones", thus completing the alternation of this verse.
Then. Ginsburg suggests "I" (emphatic) instead of "Then".
5.
O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
sins. Hebrew. 'asham. App-44 .
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.
Lord GOD. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. App-4 . .
God of Israel. See note on Isaiah 29:23 .
7.
Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
8.
I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
a stranger. Compare John 1:11 .
children = sons.
9.
For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
the zeal, &c. Quoted as fulfilled in John 2:17 .
the reproaches. Quoted in Romans 15:3 .
10.
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
I wept, and chastened my soul. The Septuagint reads "I humbled my soul".
11.
I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
sackcloth. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), for mourning attire.
proverb. Compare John 8:48 . Matthew 27:63 .
12.
They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
the song = the mocking song.
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.
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
in an acceptable time: i.e. at the time Thou pleasest.
multitude = abundance, or plenitude.
mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.
Hear = answer.
lovingkindness = grace.
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.
Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
16.
Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
17.
And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
18.
Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
redeem. Hebrew. ga'al. See Ex. note on Psalms 6:6 .
19.
Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.
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.
some. Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "one".
21.
They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
They gave. Fulfilled in Matthew 27:34 , Matthew 27:48 . Mark 15:23 , Mark 15:36 . Luke 23:36 . John 19:28-30 .
gave = put. See note on Matthew 27:34 .
gall. = something bitter, probably the poppy. Hebrew. r ' osh . In Deuteronomy 29:18 ; Deuteronomy 32:33 , it is rendered "venom"; in Job 20:16 , "poison"; in Hosea 10:4 , "hemlock".
for = into.
meat = choice food. Occurs only here. A kindred form in 2Sa 13:5 , 2 Samuel 13:7 , 2 Samuel 13:10 .
22.
Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
Let, &c. Imprecation. Suitable for a dispensation of Law and Judgment; not for this Day of Grace. See Romans 11:9 , Romans 11:10 .
23.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
24.
Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
25.
Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
Let, &c. Quoted in Acts 1:20 .
habitation = palace: a place surrounded by a wall. Occurs only here in Psalms.
26.
For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
those whom Thou hast wounded = Thy wounded ones.
27.
Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
Add. Referring to the reading in Psalms 69:26 .
iniquity. Hebrew ' avah . App-44 . Put here by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for the punishment deserved by it.
28.
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
the living = life. See note on Leviticus 18:5 .
29.
But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
poor = afflicted. Hebrew ' ani . See note on Proverbs 6:11 . Not the same word as in Psalms 69:33 . Constantly used of Christ in the Psalms. Compare Psalms 22:24 (afflicted); Psalms 34:6 , Psalms 35:10 ; Psalms 40:17 ; Psalms 70:5 ; Psalms 109:16 , Psalms 109:22 .
Let. Omit.
30.
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
praise. The sufferings never mentioned without praise. Compare Psalms 22 .Isaiah 53 , &c.
name : i. e. God Himself. Compare Psalms 20:1 .
of. Genitive of Apposition. App-17 .
with a song. Hebrew. beshir. Figure of speech Paronomasia with mishshor, an ox, in Psalms 69:31 .
31.
This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
better. Praise is the truest sacrifice.
an ox. See note on "song" (Psalms 69:30 ).
horns. Showing full age; not under three years (Genesis 15:9 ).
and. So some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate; but not in current printed Hebrew text.
hoofs = divided hoof, showing it to be ceremonially clean (Leviticus 11:3 ).
32.
The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
and be glad = they rejoice.
heart. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), for the whole being.
shall live: i.e. live again in resurrection. See note on Leviticus 18:5 .
God. In Authorized Version, 1611, this was printed "good". First printed "God" in ed. 1617.
33.
For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
poor = helpless. Hebrew ' ebyon. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
34.
Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and everything that moveth therein.
heaven and earth. See note on Genesis 14:19 .
35.
For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
Zion. See App-68 .
will build. This is prophecy; for David was "a prophet" (Acts 2:30 ).
dwell, &c. Not merely dwell and possess, but inherit and hand down.
have it in possession = inherit it. Note the Introversion.
36.
The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .