English Standard Version
Psalms 69:4
4More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?
Psalms 69:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
- New International Version (NIV)Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Those who hate me without a cause Are more than the hairs of my head; They are mighty who would destroy me, Being my enemies wrongfully; Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.
Context of Psalms 69:4
2I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. 3I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore? 5O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. 6Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord God of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.
Read all of Psalms 69Psalms 69:4 word by word
רַבּ֤וּ׀ מִשַּׂעֲר֣וֹת רֹאשִׁי֮ שֹׂנְאַ֪י חִ֫נָּ֥ם עָצְמ֣וּ מַ֭צְמִיתַי אֹיְבַ֣י שֶׁ֑קֶר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־גָ֝זַ֗לְתִּי אָ֣ז אָשִֽׁיב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- They that hateשָׂנֵאώânê' · to hateH8130
- me without a causeחִנָּםchinnâm · for nothingH2600
- are moreרָבַבrâbab · to multiplyH7231
- than the hairsשַׂעֲרָהώa‛ărâh · hairH8185
- of mine headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
- they that would destroyצָמַתtsâmath · to destroyH6789
- mine enemiesאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
- wrongfullyשֶׁ֫קֶרsheqer · deceptionH8267
- are mightyעָצֹם‛âtsam · be vastH6105
- then I restoredשׁוּבshûb · to return: rescueH7725
- which I took not awayגָּזַלgâzal · to plunderH1497
Cross-references for Psalms 69:4
- John 15:25But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'
- 1 Peter 2:22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
- Psalms 40:12For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.
- Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands,
- Psalms 35:12They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft.
- Psalms 38:19But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
- Psalms 109:3They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause.
- Isaiah 53:4Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
- 1 Peter 2:24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
- 1 Peter 3:18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
Commentaries on Psalms 69:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Then I restored that which I took not away - I think, with Calmet, that this is a sort of proverbial expression, like such as these, "Those who suffered the wrong, pay the costs." Delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi. "Kings sin, and the people are punished." "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge." Our fathers have grievously sinned against the Lord, and we their posterity suffer for it. See on Psalm 69:12; (note)…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4They that hate me without a cause - Without any just reason; without any provocation on my part. There were many such in the case of David, for to those who rose up against him in the time of Saul, and to Absalom also, he had given no real occasion of offence. An expression similar to the one used here occurs in Psalm 35:19. See the notes at that passage. The “language” is applied to the Saviour John 15:25, not as having had original reference to him, but…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4John applied this lament to Jesus (John 15:25).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. hate me, &c.--(Compare Joh 15:25). On the number and power of his enemies (compare Psa 40:12). then I restored ... away--that is, he suffered wrongfully under the imputation of robbery.Read the comment
Topics related to Psalms 69:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Psalms 69
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- The Treasury of David
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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