Psalms 69: Save Me, God

Psalm 69 is by David, to the tune of Lilies, as the title says. David feels like he is sinking in deep waters. People hate him without a cause, and zeal for God's house consumes him. He cries to Yahweh, who answers out of loving kindness. The psalm ends in praise, for Yahweh hears the needy.

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Read Psalms 69

World English Bible · 36 verses

¹ For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Lilies.” By David. Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail looking for my God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn’t take away.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren’t hidden from you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Don’t let those who wait for you be shamed through me, Lord Yahweh of Armies. Don’t let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s children.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Don’t let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don’t let the pit shut its mouth on me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Answer me, Yahweh, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Don’t hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ Draw near to my soul and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ They also gave me poison for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² Let their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can’t see. Let their backs be continually bent.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ Charge them with crime upon crime. Don’t let them come into your righteousness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ It will please Yahweh better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ For Yahweh hears the needy, and doesn’t despise his captive people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves therein!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁵ For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁶ The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell therein.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Psalms 69 · Preschool

God Hears Me

Name Date

Color the waves and the praying hands. God hears us when we call.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“For Yahweh hears the needy, and doesn’t despise his captive people.”

Psalms 69:33 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: When we feel like we are in deep water, we can call to God. He hears us. Let's say, God, help me!

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Psalms 69 · Grade 4

Zeal for God's House

Name Date

Read and Think

The title of Psalm 69 says it is by David, to the tune of Lilies. It opens with drowning: Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck! I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. David is weary with crying, and those who hate him without a cause are more than the hairs of his head.

Part of his suffering comes from loving God. For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. When he wept and fasted, people mocked him. Even so, David says, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, and he asks God to answer according to his loving kindness.

David asks God to deal with his enemies, leaving judgment in God's hands. Then the psalm ends with song: I will praise the name of God with a song. Yahweh hears the needy. In the New Testament, Jesus' disciples remembered verse 9 when he cleared the temple (John 2:17), and John says Jesus was offered vinegar on the cross (John 19:29), words that echo verse 21.

Show What You Know

What picture describes David's trouble at the start?
Why did some people mock David?
What does David do with his enemies?
When did the disciples remember verse 9?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

wearyprayerwatersGoddeep

It opens with drowning: Save me, God, for the have come up to my neck!
I sink in mire, where there is no foothold.
David is with crying, and those who hate him without a cause are more than the hairs of his head.
Part of his suffering comes from loving .
Even so, David says, my is to you, Yahweh, and he asks God to answer according to his loving kindness.

Think About It

Have you ever felt like you were in deep water? How can you call on God then?
How can loving God sometimes bring teasing from others?

Memory Verse

“For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.”

Psalms 69:9 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for answering me when I call. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

David asked that others who hope in God not be shamed because of him. How might your choices affect others who follow God?
How can you hand over hurt to God instead of hurting back?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Psalms 69 · Grade 5

Suffering for God's Sake

Name Date

Read and Think

The title of Psalm 69 says it is by David, to the tune of Lilies. It is one of the most quoted psalms in the New Testament. It opens with a man going under: Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck! He has no foothold, his throat is dry from crying, and his enemies hate him without a cause.

David admits his own foolishness, but much of his pain comes from faithfulness. Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. For the zeal of your house consumes me. He looked for comforters and found none, and in his thirst they gave him vinegar to drink. In the New Testament, the disciples remembered verse 9 when Jesus cleared the temple (John 2:17), Paul applied it to Christ (Romans 15:3), and John records that Jesus was given sour wine on the cross (John 19:29).

Verses 22 to 28 are some of the strongest prayers against enemies in the Psalms. David hands his enemies over to God rather than taking revenge himself, and Christians read them in light of Jesus, who prayed for those who crucified him (Luke 23:34). The psalm finishes in praise: Yahweh hears the needy, and doesn't despise his captive people. Let heaven and earth praise him.

Show What You Know

What does David admit about himself?
Name two New Testament uses of verse 9.
How should the strong prayers in verses 22-28 be read?
How does the psalm end?

Crossword

Across

Neither let the ____ swallow me up.
I am ____ with my crying.

Down

My ____ is to you.
For the ____ have come up to my neck.
____ me in the truth of your salvation.

Think About It

Why do you think the New Testament writers saw Jesus in this psalm?
How can you respond when you are treated unfairly for doing what is right?

Memory Verse

“But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.”

Psalms 69:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for answering me when I call. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

In the New Testament, Jesus prayed for those who hurt Him. How can you pray for someone who mistreats you?
How can we find hope when we feel like we are sinking?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Psalms 69: Save Me, God

Read Psalms 69

Worksheets

God Hears Me

Prayer

Take It Home

Save Me

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

God Hears the Needy

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Out of Deep Waters

Prayer

Take It Home

Deep Waters

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Out of the Deep Waters

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Out of Deep Waters

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Zeal for God's House

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Suffering for God's Sake

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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