TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
Complete Jewish Bible
Rescue me from the mud! Don't let me sink! Let me be rescued from those who hate me and from the deep water.
Berean Standard Bible
Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters.
American Standard Version
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.
World English Bible Messianic
Deliver me out of the mire, and don’t let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Deliuer mee out of the myre, that I sinke not: let me be deliuered from them that hate me, and out of the deepe waters.
Young's Literal Translation
Deliver me from the mire, and let me not sink, Let me be delivered from those hating me, And from deep places of waters.
In the KJVVerse 14,950 of 31,102
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Commentary on Psalms 69 verses 13–21
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 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.
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.
21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
David had been speaking before of the spiteful reproaches which his enemies cast upon him; here he adds, But, as for me, my prayer is unto thee. They spoke ill of him for his fasting and praying, and for that he was made the song of the drunkards; but, notwithstanding that, he resolves to continue praying. Note, Though we may be jeered for well-doing, we must never be jeered out of it. Those can bear but little for God, and their confessing his name before men, that cannot bear a scoff and a hard word rather than quit their duty. David's enemies were very abusive to him, but this was his comfort, that he had a God to go to, with whom he would lodge his cause. "They think to carry their cause by insolence and calumny; but I use other methods. Whatever they do, As for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord!" And it was in an acceptable time, not the less acceptable for being a time of affliction. God will not drive us from him, though it is need that drives us to him; nay, it is the more acceptable, because the misery and distress of God's people make them so much the more the objects of his pity: it is seasonable for him to help them when all other helps fail, and they are undone, and feel that they are undone, if he do not help them. We find this expression used concerning Christ. Isa 49:8, In an acceptable time have I heard thee. Now observe,
I. What his requests are. 1. That he might have a gracious audience given to his complaints, the cry of his affliction, and the desire of his heart. Hear me (Psa 69:13), and again, Hear me, O Lord! (Psa 69:16), Hear me speedily (Psa 69:17), not only hear what I say, but grant what I ask. Christ knew that the Father heard him always, Joh 11:42. 2. That he might be rescued out of his troubles, might be saved from sinking under the load of grief (Deliver me out of the mire; let me not stick in it, so some, but help me out, and set my feet on a rock, Psa 40:2), might be saved from his enemies, that they might not swallow him up, nor have their will against him: "Let me be delivered from those that hate me, as a lamb from the paw of a lion, Psa 69:14. Though I have come into keep waters (Psa 69:2), where I am ready to conclude that the floods will overflow me, yet let my fears be prevented and silenced; let not the waterflood, though it flow upon me, overflow me, Psa 69:15. Let me not fall into the gulf of despair; let not that deep swallow me up; let not that pit shut her mouth upon me, for then I am undone." He gave himself up for lost in the beginning of the psalm; yet now he has his head above water, and is not so weary of crying as he thought himself. 3. That God would turn to him (Psa 69:16), that he would smile upon him, and not hide his face from him, Psa 69:17. The tokens of God's favour to us, and the light of his countenance shining upon us, are enough to keep our spirits from sinking in the deepest mire of outward troubles, nor need we desire any more to make us safe and easy, Psa 69:18. "Draw nigh to my soul, to manifest thyself to it, and that shall redeem it."
II. What his pleas are to enforce these petitions. 1. He pleads God's mercy and truth (Psa 69:13): In the multitude of thy mercy hear me. There is mercy in God, a multitude of mercies, all kinds of mercy, inexhaustible mercy, mercy enough for all, enough for each; and hence we must take our encouragement in praying. The truth also of his salvation (the truth of all those promises of salvation which he has made to those that trust in him) is a further encouragement. He repeats his argument taken from the mercy of God: "Hear me, for thy lovingkindness of good. It is so in itself; it is rich and plentiful and abundant. It is so in the account of all the saints; it is very precious to them, it is their life, their joy, their all. O let me have the benefit of it! Turn to me, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies," Psa 69:16. See how highly he speaks of the goodness of God: in him there are mercies, tender mercies, and a multitude of them. If we think well of God, and continue to do so under the greatest hardships, we need not fear but God will do well for us; for he takes pleasure in those that hope in his mercy, Psa 147:11. 2. He pleads his own distress and affliction: "Hide not thy face from me, for I am in trouble (Psa 69:17), and therefore need thy favour; therefore it will come seasonably, and therefore I shall know how to value it." He pleads particularly the reproach he was under and the indignities that were done him (Psa 69:19): Thou hast known my reproach, my shame, and my dishonour. See what a stress is laid upon this; for, in the sufferings of Christ for us, perhaps nothing contributed more to the satisfaction he made for sin, which had been so injurious to God in his honour, than the reproach, and shame, and dishonour he underwent, which God took notice of, and accepted as more than an equivalent for the everlasting shame and contempt which our sins had deserved, and therefore we must by repentance take shame to ourselves and bear the reproach of our youth. And if at any time we be called out to suffer reproach, and shame, and dishonour, for his sake, this may be our comfort, that he knows it, and, as he is before-hand with us, so he will not be behind-hand with us. The Psalmist speaks the language of an ingenuous nature when he says (Psa 69:20): Reproach has broken my heart; I am full of heaviness; for it bears hard upon one that knows the worth of a good name to be put under a bad character; but when we consider what an honour it is to be dishonoured for God, and what a favour to be counted worthy to suffer shame for his name (as they deemed it, Act 5:41), we shall see there is no reason at all why it should sit so heavily or be any heart-breaking to us. 3. He pleads the insolence and cruelty of his enemies (Psa 69:18): Deliver me because of my enemies, because they were such as he had before described them, Psa 69:4. "My adversaries are all before thee (Psa 69:19); thou knowest what sort of men they are, what danger I am in from them, what enemies they are to thee, and how much thou art reflected upon in what they do and design against me." One instance of their barbarity is given (Psa 69:21): They gave me gall for my meat (the word signifies a bitter herb, and is often joined with wormwood) and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. This was literally fulfilled in Christ, and did so directly point to him that he would not say It is finished till this was fulfilled; and, in order that his enemies might have occasion to fulfil it, he said, I thirst, Joh 19:28, Joh 19:29. Some think that the hyssop which they put to his mouth with the vinegar was the bitter herb which they gave him with the vinegar for his meat. See how particularly the sufferings of Christ were foretold, which proves the scripture to be the word of God, and how exactly the predictions were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, which proves him to be the true Messiah. This is he that should come, and we are to look for no other. 4. He pleads the unkindness of his friends and his disappointment in them (Psa 69:20): I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; they all failed him like the brooks in summer. This was fulfilled in Christ, for in his sufferings all his disciples forsook him and fled. We cannot expect too little from men (miserable comforters are they all); nor can we expect too much from God, for he is the Father of mercy and the God of all comfort and consolation.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 13–21. Public domain.
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Ambrose of MilanAD 397
Exposition of the Christian Faith 1.2.12
“Not every one who says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven,” says the Scripture. Faith, therefore, august sovereign, must not be a mere matter of performance, for it is written, “The zeal of your house has devoured me.” Let us then with faithful spirit and devout mind call on Jesus our Lord, let us believe that he is God, to the end that whatever we ask of the Father, we may obtain in his name. For the Father’s will is that he be entreated through the Son, the Son’s that the Father be entreated.
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 69
"Save Me from the mire, that I may not stick" [Psalm 69:14]. From that whereof above he had spoken, "Fixed I am in the clay of the deep, and there is no substance." Furthermore, since you have duly received the exposition of that expression, in this place there is nothing further for you to hear particularly. From hence he says that he must be delivered, wherein before he said that he was fixed: "Save Me from the mire, that I may not stick." And he explains this himself: "Let Me be rescued from them that hate Me." They were themselves therefore the clay wherein he had stuck. But the following perchance suggests itself. A little before he had said, Fixed I am; now he says, Save Me from the mire, that I may not stick: whereas after the meaning of what was said before he ought to have said, Save Me from the mire where I had stuck, by rescuing Me, not by causing that I stick not. Therefore He had stuck in flesh, but had not stuck in spirit. He says this, because of the infirmity of His members. Whenever perchance you are seized by one that urges you to iniquity, your body indeed is taken, in regard to the body you are fixed in the clay of the deep: but so long as you consent not, you have not stuck; but if you consent, you have stuck. Let then your prayer be in that place, in order that as your body is now held, so your soul may not be held, so you may be free in bonds.
Caesarius of ArlesAD 542
SERMON 167:5
For this reason, the unquenchable fire there will have to burn whatever healing penance and a salutary conversion of life here has failed to cure. The burning pit of hell will be open, and to it there will be a descent but no means of return. Souls that have been stripped of the garment of faith and are mortally dead will be buried there forever, destined to be cast into the darkness outside where they will not be visited for all eternity. They will be unhappily shut out in exterior darkness, I repeat, or rather they will still more unhappily be enclosed in it. Concerning this pit the prophet relates, “Let not the abyss swallow me up, nor the pit close its mouth over me.” He said, “Let not the pit close its mouth over me” for this reason, because when it admits the guilty, it will be closed above and opened below, extending to the depths. No breathing space will be left, no breath of air will be available when the doors press down from above. Those who say farewell to the things of nature will be cast down there; since they have refused to know God, they will no longer be recognized by him, and dying to life they will live for endless death. The happy souls who now use their wealth wisely, content with bodily necessities and generous with their possessions, pure in themselves and not cruel toward others, free themselves from the fiery night of this infernal region. This punishment will detain those who will perish for all eternity, since they have lost the grace of baptism and have not restored it through repentance. To them it is said, “The chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 69:14 is a fervent and desperate cry from the psalmist to God for immediate and comprehensive rescue from overwhelming peril and the relentless assault of enemies. It vividly depicts a soul sinking into despair and danger, using powerful imagery of mire and deep waters to convey an inescapable predicament, while simultaneously expressing an unwavering trust in divine intervention as the sole source of deliverance. This verse encapsulates the universal human experience of feeling trapped and endangered, turning to the Almighty for salvation.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 69:14 is rich in Imagery, primarily through the vivid use of Metaphor. The "mire" and "deep waters" are not literal physical locations but powerful representations of the psalmist's overwhelming distress, despair, and mortal peril. This vivid imagery allows the reader to viscerally understand the depth of the psalmist's suffering and the seemingly inescapable nature of his predicament. The verse also employs Parallelism, specifically a form of Synonymous Parallelism and Climactic Parallelism. The phrases "out of the mire" and "out of the deep waters" are parallel in their metaphorical meaning of extreme danger, while "let me not sink" amplifies the sense of imminent doom. The structure also exhibits a form of Chiasm or Envelope Structure (A-B-A'), beginning and ending with the water/mud imagery (A) and placing the human enemies (B) in the middle, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the threat that surrounds the psalmist. The Repetition of "deliver" (or "be delivered") serves to underscore the urgency and singular focus of the psalmist's plea for divine intervention, highlighting his complete reliance on God's saving power.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 69:14 stands as a profound testament to the human condition of vulnerability and the divine attribute of salvation. Theologically, it affirms God as the ultimate deliverer, capable of rescuing His people from the most dire and seemingly inescapable circumstances. It highlights the biblical understanding that true rescue, whether from physical danger, emotional despair, or the oppression of adversaries, ultimately comes from God alone. The psalmist's cry is not just a plea for relief, but an act of profound faith, acknowledging God's sovereignty over all forces of chaos and evil. This verse embodies the principle that even in the deepest pits of suffering, when one feels utterly consumed and without hope, God's steadfast love and power are sufficient to draw His beloved out, demonstrating His character as the faithful rescuer of His people.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 69:14 offers a powerful template for honest and fervent prayer in times of overwhelming crisis. It validates the human experience of feeling "stuck in the mire" of despair, addiction, financial ruin, relational breakdown, or spiritual stagnation, and "sinking in deep waters" of grief, anxiety, depression, or spiritual oppression. This verse reminds us that it is not only permissible but essential to articulate our deepest fears and most desperate needs to God without reservation or pretense. The psalmist's raw vulnerability before God encourages us to lay bare our own helplessness, recognizing that our strength is utterly insufficient for the battles we face. More than just a cry of distress, it is a declaration of faith that, despite the overwhelming odds and the feeling of being utterly consumed, God remains our ultimate rescuer. In our own moments of feeling submerged by life's challenges or attacked by those who oppose us, this verse calls us to turn to the Lord, trusting that He has the power to pull us out of any pit and deliver us from any foe, transforming our cries for help into testimonies of His saving grace and unwavering faithfulness.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the "mire" and "deep waters" in this psalm?
Answer: The "mire" (Hebrew: ṭîyṭ) and "deep waters" (Hebrew: mayim ‘ămuqqîm) are powerful and frequently used biblical metaphors for overwhelming distress, chaos, and imminent death. The "mire" suggests being stuck, bogged down, unable to move or escape, often implying public shame, defilement, or a hopeless predicament. "Deep waters" symbolize being submerged, drowning, or facing an existential threat from which there is no human escape. Together, they paint a comprehensive picture of extreme peril, illustrating the psalmist's feeling of being completely consumed by his circumstances and adversaries. This imagery highlights his utter helplessness and desperate need for divine intervention, as only God can rescue from such profound depths. This vivid imagery is common in the Psalms to convey profound suffering, as seen in Psalm 40:2 where the psalmist is drawn out of a "miry pit and out of the miry clay."
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Psalms 69:14 is a poignant cry from an individual in distress, its themes and imagery find profound Christ-centered fulfillment. Jesus, the ultimate righteous sufferer, experienced the "mire" of human sin and the "deep waters" of divine wrath on behalf of humanity. He was hated without cause, just as the psalmist laments (John 15:25), and descended into the depths of suffering, even death, to deliver us. His cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46), echoes the psalmist's sense of abandonment and desperate plea for rescue. Yet, through His glorious resurrection, Christ was "delivered" from the grave and the power of death, emerging victorious from the deepest "waters" of human sin and divine judgment. He is the one who truly pulls us out of the mire of our sin and the deep waters of condemnation, offering us salvation and new life (Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12). Thus, the psalmist's prayer becomes a prophetic foreshadowing of the ultimate Deliverer, Jesus Christ, who saves us from the very depths of our spiritual peril and grants us eternal life.