Psalms 69:14

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Deliver {H5337}{H8685)} me out of the mire {H2916}, and let me not sink {H2883}{H8799)}: let me be delivered {H5337}{H8735)} from them that hate {H8130}{H8802)} me, and out of the deep {H4615} waters {H4325}.

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.

Commentary

### 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
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 69 is a profound lament psalm, one of the longest and most intense in the Psalter, traditionally attributed to David. It opens with an urgent plea for salvation from "deep waters" (vv. 1-2), a thematic echo immediately picked up in verse 14. Throughout the psalm, the speaker details his suffering, the contempt he faces from his enemies, his zeal for God's house consuming him, and his feeling of abandonment by friends and family. This particular verse, [Psalms 69:14](/psalms/69-14 "Psalm 69:14 - A Cry for Deliverance from Mire and Deep Waters"), is situated within a crucial section (vv. 13-18) where the psalmist transitions from describing his profound suffering to an earnest, direct prayer for God's favorable response and swift deliverance. This shift underscores his absolute reliance on God's steadfast love and faithfulness as his only hope. The recurring imagery of sinking in mire and deep waters is a potent motif in the Psalms, notably found in [Psalm 40:2](/psalms/40-2 "Psalm 40:2 - Deliverance from the Miry Pit") and [Psalm 18:16](/psalms/18-16 "Psalm 18:16 - God's Rescue from Deep Waters"), reinforcing the universal nature of such distress and the consistent portrayal of God as the rescuer.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the precise historical setting for Psalm 69 remains a subject of scholarly discussion, its themes resonate deeply with periods of intense persecution, social ostracization, and national suffering common in ancient Israel. The psalmist's distress is multifaceted, encompassing not only physical and emotional agony but also profound social and spiritual humiliation. In the ancient Near East, being "stuck in the mire" or "sinking in deep waters" was a common and viscerally relatable metaphor for overwhelming distress, chaos, and imminent death. These images were often associated with the primeval waters of chaos or the underworld, making the plea for deliverance a cry for salvation from existential threat. Literal dangers such as flash floods or marshy regions made the imagery particularly potent. Furthermore, the concept of "enemies" was expansive, encompassing personal adversaries, national foes, or even those who opposed the righteous path. The psalmist's plea for deliverance from "them that hate me" reflects the harsh reality of social shame and public ridicule, which, in a communal society, could be as devastating as physical harm, leading to a profound sense of isolation and despair.
* **Key Themes:** Psalms 69:14 contributes powerfully to several overarching themes within Psalm 69 and the Psalter as a whole. Firstly, it highlights the **Desperate Plea for Divine Rescue**, underscoring the psalmist's complete helplessness and utter dependence on God's intervention. This theme is central to the lament psalms, where human inability to cope with overwhelming circumstances drives the cry to God. Secondly, the verse employs **Vivid Imagery of Overwhelming Distress**, using "mire" and "deep waters" as potent **metaphors** for inescapable danger, despair, and the threat of being utterly consumed by circumstances or adversaries. This powerful imagery is a hallmark of lament psalms, effectively conveying the depth of the speaker's suffering and the magnitude of the threat. Thirdly, the verse points to the reality of **Unjust Persecution and Hostility** from "them that hate me," a common experience for the righteous in a fallen world, as seen in [Psalm 35:19](/psalms/35-19 "Psalm 35:19 - Enemies Hating Without Cause") and [Psalm 109:3](/psalms/109-3 "Psalm 109:3 - They Fought Against Me Without Cause"). Finally, despite the dire circumstances, the underlying theme of **Profound Trust in God's Deliverance** shines through. The very act of crying out to God, rather than succumbing to despair, demonstrates an unwavering faith in His power and willingness to save, echoing the confidence expressed in [Psalm 27:1](/psalms/27-1 "Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is My Light and Salvation") and [Psalm 121:7-8](/psalms/121-7-8 "Psalm 121:7-8 - The Lord Will Keep You from All Evil").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Mire (Hebrew, _ṭîyṭ'_ - H2916):** From an unused root meaning "to be sticky," this word refers to thick, clinging mud or clay, often associated with the lowest, most degraded places. Figuratively, it signifies a situation of being stuck, bogged down, unable to move or escape, and often implies public shame, defilement, or a state of utter helplessness. It evokes the feeling of being trapped in a hopeless quagmire, where every movement only deepens the predicament, leading to a sense of being utterly consumed and disgraced.
* **Sink (Hebrew, _ṭâbaʻ'_ - H2883):** A primitive root meaning "to sink" or "to drown." This verb vividly portrays the psalmist's fear of being completely submerged and lost. It suggests an irreversible descent into an overwhelming force, emphasizing the immediate and pressing danger of being utterly consumed by the perilous circumstances. The psalmist's plea is not just to be pulled out, but to be prevented from this final, fatal submersion.
* **Deliver (Hebrew, _nâtsal'_ - H5337):** A primitive root meaning "to snatch away," "to rescue," or "to preserve." This verb implies a forceful, decisive act of pulling out or extracting someone from a dangerous situation. The repetition of "deliver" (or "be delivered") in the verse underscores the psalmist's urgent and singular focus on God's active, powerful, and saving intervention. It highlights the belief that only a divine hand can effect such a profound and complete rescue from the depths of peril.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink":** This initial plea establishes the psalmist's desperate state, portraying a situation of being utterly stuck, disgraced, or overwhelmed by circumstances from which he cannot extricate himself. The "mire" symbolizes a suffocating, entrapping predicament, while the request "let me not sink" intensifies this imagery, conveying the profound fear of being completely engulfed and lost. It is a dual cry for both extraction from the immediate entrapment and prevention from ultimate, fatal submersion.
* **"let me be delivered from them that hate me":** The focus shifts from metaphorical, environmental dangers to concrete human adversaries. This clause reveals that the psalmist's suffering is not merely circumstantial but actively inflicted by hostile individuals. The plea for deliverance from "them that hate me" underscores the intensely personal nature of the persecution and the desire for God's protection against malicious intent, verbal abuse, and harmful actions. This highlights the social and relational dimensions of his distress.
* **"and out of the deep waters":** This final phrase returns to the powerful imagery of overwhelming peril, paralleling and intensifying the "mire." "Deep waters" represent an existential threat, chaos, or imminent death, from which the psalmist seeks complete rescue. The combination of "mire" and "deep waters" paints a comprehensive picture of danger, both entrapping and engulfing, from which only divine power can save, underscoring the totality of the threat and the absolute necessity of God's intervention.

#### 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.

* [Psalm 40:2](/psalms/40-2 "Psalm 40:2 - He Drew Me Up from the Pit of Destruction")
* [Psalm 18:16](/psalms/18-16 "Psalm 18:16 - He Drew Me Out of Many Waters")
* [Isaiah 43:2](/isaiah/43-2 "Isaiah 43:2 - When You Pass Through the Waters")

### 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
* **In what specific areas of your life do you currently feel "stuck in the mire" or "sinking in deep waters", and what prevents you from crying out to God?**
* **How does the psalmist's raw honesty in prayer encourage you to bring your full self, including your fears and desperation, before God without reservation?**
* **What practical steps can you take this week to actively trust God as your deliverer in a challenging situation, rather than relying on your own strength or despairing?**

### 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](/psalms/40-2 "Psalm 40:2 - Deliverance from the Miry Pit") 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 (cf. [John 15:25](/john/15-25 "John 15:25 - They Hated Me Without Cause")), 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?" (cf. [Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), 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 (cf. [Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Buried with Christ in Baptism") and [Colossians 2:12](/colossians/2-12 "Colossians 2:12 - Raised with Him Through Faith")). 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.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 144:7

Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;

Jeremiah 38:6

Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that [was] in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon [there was] no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

Jeremiah 38:13

So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

Psalms 109:21

¶ But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy [is] good, deliver thou me.

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.

Psalms 69:15

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