God’s Word Translation
Psalms 69:4
4Those who hate me for no reason outnumber the hairs on my head. Those who want to destroy me are mighty. They have no reason to be my enemies. I am forced to pay back what I did not steal.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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?
- 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.
Context of Psalms 69:4
2I am sinking in deep mud. There is nothing to stand on. I am in deep water. A flood is sweeping me away. 3I am exhausted from crying for help. My throat is hoarse. My eyes are strained ⌞from⌟ looking for my God. Those who hate me for no reason outnumber the hairs on my head. Those who want to destroy me are mighty. They have no reason to be my enemies. I am forced to pay back what I did not steal. 5O God, you know my stupidity, and the things of which I am guilty are not hidden from you. 6Do not let those who wait with hope for you be put to shame because of me, O Almighty Lord of Armies. Do not let those who come to you for help be humiliated because of 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 15:25In this way what is written in their Scriptures has come true: ‘They hate me for no reason.’
- 1 Peter 2:22Christ never committed any sin. He never spoke deceitfully.
- Psalms 40:12Countless evils have surrounded me. My sins have caught up with me so that I can no longer see. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost heart.
- Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done this— if my hands are stained with injustice,
- Psalms 35:12I am devastated because they pay me back with evil instead of good.
- Psalms 38:19My mortal enemies are growing stronger. Many hate me for no reason.
- Psalms 109:3They surround me with hateful words. They fight against me for no reason.
- Isaiah 53:4He certainly has taken upon himself our suffering and carried our sorrows, but we thought that God had wounded him, beat him, and punished him.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God’s approval through him.
- 1 Peter 2:24Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so that freed from our sins, we could live a life that has God’s approval. His wounds have healed you.
- 1 Peter 3:18This is true because Christ suffered for our sins once. He was an innocent person, but he suffered for guilty people so that he could bring you to God. His body was put to death, but he was brought to life through his 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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