Psalm 69 - Prayer of the Just Afflicted to God

    [New International Version] Psalm 69 belongs to Book II of the Book of Psalms. The Psalmist asks for punishment for those who persecute him and for God's protection against enemies who harm him because of his love for God.

    The PS 69 belong to Book II of the book of PS composed of a collection of texts 150 poetry books organized by five. The Book of Psalms, for its wisdom and basic principles of human action , is considered the heart of the Old Testament. Book II comprises the PS 42 the 72 . The PS 69 is divided into 37 verses. The Psalms are poems-prayers addressed to God, being the privileged way to address and speak to Him. These prayers represent human experiences and religious conscience . They portray the common man , with his faults, insecurities, fears and hopes and, even today, we can identify with the Psalmist and draw inspiration from these texts to pray and plead with God when we feel lost and anguished or to express our gratitude for some blessing received. "There are enemies or friends, there is life or death, health or illness, pain or joy and, most of the time, there are no changes or gradations. Words are like stones and poetry like boulders carved by chisel"; "The Psalms are a bit like mountain paths, simple, especially when walking on snow, but they lead to the peaks; they are paths toward the peaks of meeting the Lord." - Carlo Maria Martini, Cardinal of Milan

    Psalm 69 - Prayer of the Just Afflicted

    1  To the director. By the melody  " The Lilies " . From David . 2  Save me, O God, because the waters reach up to my neck. 3  I'm sinking into a deep bog, I have no foothold. I entered deep water, and the current drags me. 4  I am exhausted from screaming, and my throat is hoarse; my eyes are already consumed by waiting so long for my God. 5 Those who unjustly hate me are more than the hairs on my head. Those who want to destroy me are powerful, the enemies who lie against me. Will I then have to return what I have not stolen? 6  O God, You know my folly, and my faults are not hidden from You. 7  Let not those who wait in you be ashamed for my sake, O LORD, LORD of hosts. May those who seek you not be ashamed for my sake , O God of Israel. 8  Because of you I have endured insults, my face was covered with shame. 9  I have become a stranger to my brothers, a stranger to my mother's children. 10  For passion for your house consumes me; the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. 11 I  mortify my soul by fasting, and even this provokes more insults against me. 12  If I dress in mourning, I am an object of derision to them. 13 They  murmur against me as they sit at the gate of the city and sing songs against me, drinking wine. 14  But I address my prayer to you, O Lord, in good time. Answer me, O God, by your great mercy, by the fidelity of your salvation. 15  Take me out of the mud, so that I don't sink! Deliver me from those who hate me and from the deep waters! 16  Let not the waves cover me, neither swallow me up; let the mouth of the well not close on me. 17  Answer me, Lord, for Your mercy is kind; turn to me for your great compassion. 18  Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, because I am distressed. 19  Draw near to my soul and deliver it, redeem me because of my enemies. 20  You know well my reproach, my disillusionment and shame; you are very present to those who persecute me. 21  The insult broke my heart until I fainted: I expected compassion, but there was none; I waited for someone to comfort me and I didn't find it. 22  They put gall in my food; and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink. 23  May your table be a trap for them and a snare for their friends. 24  Let their eyes be darkened and they do not see, and their kidneys fail without ceasing. 25  Release your indignation upon them; let the fury of your anger strike them. 26  Let his camp be a wilderness, and let no one dwell in his tents. 27  For they persecute those whom You have punished, and add to the suffering of those You have wounded. 28  Place more guilt on your guilt; and do not have access to your justice. 29  Let them be crossed out of the book of the living and not inscribed in the list of the righteous. 30  But to me, sad and afflicted, may your salvation, O God, restore me. 31  I will praise the name of God with song, and I will proclaim his greatness as thanksgiving. 32  This will please God more than the sacrifice of a bull or a bullock already with horns and hooves. 33  Let the humble see; and let those who seek God rejoice. May your heart regain life! 34  For the Lord listens to the needy and does not despise his people of prisoners. 35  May heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them praise him. 36  Yea, God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. They will dwell there and take possession of her. 37  The children of his servants shall receive it as an inheritance, and those who love his name shall dwell there.

    Meaning and interpretation

    The Psalm 69 is a single prayer of supplication which the Psalmist laments the injustice , the major threats and the suffering you have to endure because of God and asks him protection and punishment against the enemies, promising thank this help. The wisdom shades of meditation found here contain connotations similar to some passages in Job. It also has similarities with Psalm 22 . As in many other Psalms, here too a reference to the people's restoration as a conclusion. The Psalms of Supplication are very present in the Book of Psalms. They speak of human frailty and the most basic feelings of your mortal condition. Times of peace and plenty contrast with war and individual or community destruction. The Psalmist pleads for God's help and asks him to end his situation of affliction , ending with the certainty of having been heard . In spiritual practice, the supplication and request to God reflects a lot the meaning of prayer, being the privileged way to establish contact and raise the voice to the Divine. In numerous Psalms, supplication seems to be the most immediate motivation and the greatest concern. When turning to God, the speaker / Psalmist finds tenderness, justice, compassion, reconciliation, purification, in short, peace itself. The narratives and feelings involved in these prayers are varied and basic; affect Humanity over the millennia, and are still current today. They reflect multiple interior , individual and collective experiences, and the relationship between people and peoples. They address topics such as the deadly threat of disease, persecution, aging, violence, war, betrayal, loneliness, enemy aggression and how these feelings alter consciousness we have of ourselves, of our relationship with others and with God. Situations that prompt supplication can be bitter and desperate , but the Psalms generally express a state of mind of trust and end in thanksgiving . The Psalmist cries out to God for his help and forgiveness in a profound expression of limitless trust in divine compassion and justice. Even the cry of the Psalmist is already a fighting speech, change will, of inner transformation, confidence and hope for a free future evil, the suffering and the wicked . The Psalms of Supplication they are classified as individual supplication and collective supplication. Those of Individual Supplication comprise Psalm 3; 5-7; 13; 17; 22; 26; 27; 28; 31; 35; 39; 42-43; 51; 54-57; 59; 61; 63; 64; 69-71; 88; 102; 109; 120; 130; 140-143. and those of  Collective Supplication Ps 12; 44; 58; 60; 74; 80; 83; 85; 90; 94; 108; 123; 127.

    The Book of Psalms

    The Joy and Happiness of the Righteous in Communion with God

    The Psalms are prayer-poems addressed to God, being the privileged way to address and speak with Him. Depicting the common man , with his failures, insecurities, fears and hopes, we can still identify with the Psalmist and be inspired today in Psalms to make prayers and supplications to God in times of trouble or express our gratitude for some blessing received. The Psalms, despite being written in Antiquity, still move , sensitize , awaken feelings , inspire and enchant . In them, we can identify anguish and joy , deeply human feelings, praises, supplications, teachings of reflection on spiritual wisdom and prophetic words. Written for different situations , some Psalms are intimate, revealing the author's personal relationship with God; others provide guidelines and advice for life, others are compositions for specific liturgical events such as rituals and pilgrimages. The Book of Psalms is composed of a collection of 150 poetic texts and is divided into five parts, called Psalm Books or Booklets. Each Book closes with short hymns of praise to God . The division into five parts was considered to correspond to the five books of Moses and it is assumed that each passage in the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible, called Torah by the Jews) was read in parallel with the corresponding Psalm. Its main forms are lamentation , supplication , praise and gratitude .

    The Power of Prayer in Dialogue with the Divine

    The Psalms elevate our thoughts to the Divine and prayer is the power of the word . Prayer is the language of faith. Any thought, word or image addressed to God is called prayer . It is through it that we come into contact with our God within and, therefore, it is so powerful in transforming life . Prayer can produce miracles , turn dreams into reality, give us hope for change , harmony and peace with ourselves and the world. Each Psalm has an intention that helps us meditate and walk with our God . For many theologians, the Book of Psalms has a prophetic or messianic tone as its verses refer to the coming of Christ into the world of men to guide them through the uncertainty and doubts of Human existence. The prayer has the power to call the Spiritual Universe full mode, honest, sincere, conscious, for the purpose of spiritual self-protection, family protection and those who are dear to us, to have peace of mind, spiritual and physical, for prosperity and success, to protect health and relationships, to ward off negative energies and, above all, to connect us to something bigger than ourselves. From this peace , well-being, hope and goodness in front of everyone and everything result. The faith can change our lives. It gives us tranquility and spiritual strength to face challenges. It helps us to meditate on our mission in life and to create a balanced and healthy environment for ourselves and those we love. When you pray, fill your heart with love and determination . The Psalms will guide you on a path of peace and communion with the higher energy .