For the music director; according to the tune of “Lilies;” 2 by David.
69:1 Deliver me, O God,
for the water has reached my neck. 3
69:2 I sink into the deep mire
where there is no solid ground; 4
I am in 5 deep water,
and the current overpowers me.
69:14 Rescue me from the mud! Don’t let me sink!
Deliver me 6 from those who hate me,
from the deep water!
69:15 Don’t let the current overpower me!
Don’t let the deep swallow me up!
Don’t let the pit 7 devour me! 8
69:16 Answer me, O Lord, for your loyal love is good! 9
Because of your great compassion, turn toward me!
1 sn Psalm 69. The psalmist laments his oppressed condition and asks the Lord to deliver him by severely judging his enemies.
2 tn Heb “according to lilies.” See the superscription to Ps 45.
3 tn The Hebrew term נפשׁ (nefesh) here refers to the psalmist’s throat or neck. The psalmist compares himself to a helpless, drowning man.
4 tn Heb “and there is no place to stand.”
5 tn Heb “have entered.”
6 tn Heb “let me be delivered.”
7 tn Heb “well,” which here symbolizes the place of the dead (cf. Ps 55:23).
8 tn Heb “do not let the well close its mouth upon me.”
9 tn Or “pleasant”; or “desirable.”