Psalms 69:15-19

69:15 Don’t let the current overpower me!

Don’t let the deep swallow me up!

Don’t let the pit ¹  devour me! ² 

69:16 Answer me, O Lord, for your loyal love is good! ³ 

Because of your great compassion, turn toward me!

69:17 Do not ignore ⁴  your servant,

for I am in trouble! Answer me right away! ⁵ 

69:18 Come near me and redeem me! ⁶ 

Because of my enemies, rescue me!

69:19 You know how I am insulted, humiliated and disgraced;

you can see all my enemies. ⁷ 

[69:15]  ¹ tn Heb “well,” which here symbolizes the place of the dead (cf. Ps 55:23).

[69:15]  ² tn Heb “do not let the well close its mouth upon me.”

[69:16]  ³ tn Or “pleasant”; or “desirable.”

[69:17]  ⁵ tn Heb “do not hide your face from.” The Hebrew idiom “hide the face” can (1) mean “ignore” (see Pss 10:11; 13:1; 51:9) or (2) carry the stronger idea of “reject” (see Pss 30:7; 88:14).

[69:17]  ⁶ tn Or “quickly.”

[69:18]  ⁷ tn Heb “come near my life and redeem it.” The verb “redeem” casts the Lord in the role of a leader who protects members of his extended family in times of need and crisis (see Ps 19:14).

[69:19]  ⁹ tn Heb “before you [are] all my enemies.”