The Eastern Cross/Bible/Psalms/Psalm 68
The Book of Psalms · the Psalter
Psalm 69 in the KJV and most English Bibles
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Εἰς τὸ τέλος, ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀλλοιωθησομένων, τῶ Δαυίδ.
Save me, O God; for the waters have come in to my soul.
Σώσον με ὁ Θεὸς, ὅτι εἰσήλθοσαν ὕδατα ἕως ψυχῆς μου.
"Save me, O God, for the waters have entered in even unto my soul". That grain is despised now, that seems to give forth humble words. In the garden it is buried, though the world will admire the greatness of the herb, of which herb the seed was despised by the Jews. For in very deed observe ye the seed of the…
I am stuck fast in deep mire, and there is no standing: I am come in to the depths of the sea, and a storm has overwhelmed me.
Ἐνεπάγην εἰς ἰλὺν βυθοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὑπόστασις· ἦλθον εἰς τὰ βάθη τῆς θαλάσσης, καὶ καταιγὶς κατεπόντισέ με.
"Fixed I am in the clay of the deep, and there is no substance." What called the clay? Is it those very persons that have persecuted? For out of clay man hath been made. But these men by falling from righteousness have become the clay of the deep, and whosoever shall not have consented to them persecuting and desiring…
I am weary of crying, my throat has become hoarse; Mine eyes have failed by my waiting on my God.
Ἐκοπίασα κράζων, ἐβραγχίασεν ὁ λάρυγξ μου, ἐξέλιπον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί μου ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐλπίζειν με ἐπὶ τὸν Θεόν μου.
"I have laboured, crying, hoarse have become my jaws." Where was this? When was this? Let us question the Gospel. For the Passion of our Lord in this Psalm we perceive. And, indeed, that He suffered we know; that there came in waters even unto His Soul, because peoples prevailed even unto His death, we read, we…
They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: My enemies that persecute me unrighteously are strengthened: Then I restored that which I took not away.
Ἐπληθύνθησαν ὑπὲρ τὰς τρίχας τῆς κεφαλῆς μου οἱ μισοῦντές με δωρεάν· ἐκραταιώθησαν οἱ ἐχθροί μου οἱ ἐκδιώκοντές με ἀδίκως· ἃ οὐχ ἥρπασα, τότε ἀπετίννυον.
O God, thou knowest my foolishness; And my transgressions are not hidden from thee.
Ὁ Θεὸς σὺ ἔγνως τὴν ἀφροσύνην μου, καὶ αἱ πλημμελειαί μου ἀπὸ σοῦ οὐκ ἐκρύβησαν.
"O God, You have known mine improvidence". Again out of the mouth of the Body. For what improvidence is there in Christ? Is He not Himself the Virtue of God, and the Wisdom of God? Does He call this His improvidence, whereof the Apostle speaks, "the foolishness of God is wiser than men"? [1 Corinthians 1:25] Mine…
Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord of hosts, be ashamed on my account: let not them that seek thee, be ashamed on my account, O God of Israel.
Μὴ αἰσχυνθείησαν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ οἱ ὑπομένοντές σε Κύριε τῶν δυνάμεων, μὴ ἐντραπείησαν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ οἱ ζητοῦντές σε ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ Ἰσραήλ.
For I have suffered reproach for thy sake; Shame has covered my face.
Ὅτι ἕνεκά σου ὑπήνεγκα ὀνειδισμὸν, ἐκάλυψεν ἐντροπὴ τὸ πρόσωπόν μου.
I became strange to my brethren, And a stranger to my mother’s children.
Ἀπηλλοτριωμένος ἐγενήθην τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς μου, καὶ ξένος τοῖς υἱοῖς τῆς μητρός μου·
"An alien I have become to My brethren, and a stranger to the sons of My mother". To the sons of the Synagogue He became a stranger...Why so? Why did they not acknowledge? Why did they call Him an alien? Why did they dare to say, we know not whence He is? "Because the zeal of Your House has eaten Me up:" that is,…
For the zeal of thy house has eaten me up; And the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
ὅτι ὁ ζῆλος τοῦ οἴκου σου κατάφαγέ με, καὶ οἱ ὀνειδισμοὶ τῶν ὀνειδιζόντων σε ἐπέπεσον ἐπʼ ἐμέ.
And I bowed down my soul with fasting, And that was made my reproach.
Καὶ συνέκαμψα ἐν νηστείᾳ τὴν ψυχήν μου, καὶ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὀνειδισμοὺς ἐμοί.
"And I have covered in fasting My Soul, and it became to Me for a reviling". His fasting was, when there fell away all they that had believed in Him; because also it was His hunger, that men should believe in Him: because also it was His thirst, when He said to the woman, I thirst, "give Me to drink:" [John 4:7] yea…
And I put on sackcloth for my covering; And I became a proverb to them.
Καὶ ἐθέμην τὸ ἔνδυμά μου σάκκον, καὶ ἐγενόμην αὐτοῖς εἰς παραβολήν.
They that sit in the gate talked against me, And they that drank wine sang against me.
Κατʼ ἐμοῦ ἠδολέσχουν οἱ καθήμενοι ἐν πύλῃ, καὶ εἰς ἐμὲ ἔψαλλον οἱ πίνοντες τὸν οἶνον.
"Against Me were reviling they that were sitting in the gate". "In the gate" is nothing else but in public. "And against Me they were chanting, they that were drinking wine." Do ye think, brethren, that this has befallen Christ alone? Daily to Him in His members it happens: whenever perchance it is necessary for the…
But I will cry to thee, O Lord, in my prayer; O God, it is a propitious time: in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, In the truth of thy salvation.
Ἐγὼ δὲ τῇ προσευχῇ μου πρὸς σὲ Κύριε, καιρὸς εὐδοκίας ὁ Θεός· ἐν τῷ πλήθει τοῦ ἐλέους σου ἐπάκουσόν μου, ἐν ἀληθείᾳ τῆς σωτηρίας σου.
"But I with My prayer with You, O Lord". But I was with You. But how? With You by praying. For when you are evil spoken of, and know not what you may do; when at you are hurled reproaches, and you find not any way of rebuking him by whom they are hurled; nothing remains for you but to pray. But remember even for that…
Save me from the mire, that I stick not in it: Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and from the deep waters.
Σῶσόν με ἀπὸ πηλοῦ, ἵνα μὴ ἐνπαγῶ· ῥυσθείην ἐκ τῶν μισούντων με, καὶ ἐκ τοῦ βάθους τῶν ὑδάτων.
"Save Me from the mire, that I may not stick". From that whereof above he had spoken, "Fixed I am in the clay of the deep, and there is no substance." Furthermore, since you have duly received the exposition of that expression, in this place there is nothing further for you to hear particularly. From hence he says…
Let not the waterflood drown me, Nor let the deep swallow me up; Neither let the well shut its mouth upon me.
Μή με καταποντισάτω καταιγὶς ὕδατος, μηδὲ καταπιέτω με βυθὸς, μηδὲ συνσχέτω ἐπʼ ἐμὲ φρέαρ τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ.
Hear me, O Lord; for thy mercy is good: According to the multitude of thy compassions look upon me.
Εἰσάκουσόν μου Κύριε, ὅτι χρηστὸν τὸ ἔλεός σου, κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν σου ἐπίβλεψον ἐπʼ ἐμε.
"Hearken unto me, O Lord, for sweet is Your mercy". He has given this as a reason why He ought to be hearkened unto, because sweet is the mercy of God....To a man set in trouble the mercy of God must needs be sweet. Concerning this sweetness of the mercy of God see ye what in another place the Scripture says: "Like…
And turn not away thy face from thy servant; For I am afflicted: hear me speedily.
Καὶ μὴ ἀποστρέψῃς τὸ πρόσωπόν σου ἀπὸ τοῦ παιδός σου· ὅτι θλίβομαι, ταχὺ ἐπάκουσόν μου.
"Turn not away Your face from Your child". And this is a commending of humility; "from Your child," that is, "from Your little one:" because now I have been rid of pride through the discipline of tribulation, "turn not away Your face from Your child." This is that beautiful mercy of God, whereof he spoke above. For in…
Draw nigh to my soul and redeem it: Deliver me because of mine enemies.
Πρόσχες τῇ ψυχῇ μου, καὶ λύτρωσαι αὐτὴν, ἕνεκα τῶν ἐχθρῶν μου ῥῦσαί με.
"Give heed to my soul, and redeem her," does need no exposition: let us see therefore what follows. "Because of mine enemies deliver me". This petition is evidently wonderful, neither briefly to be touched upon, nor hastily to be skipped over; truly wonderful: "Because of mine enemies deliver me." What is, "Because of…
For thou knowest my reproach, And my shame, and my confusion; All that afflict me are before thee.
Σὺ γὰρ γινώσκεις τὸν ὀνειδισμόν μου, καὶ τὴν αἰσχύνην μου, καὶ τὴν ἐντροπήν μου· ἐναντίον σου πάντες οἱ θλίβοντές με.
My soul has waited for reproach and misery; And I waited for one to grieve with me, but there was none; And for one to comfort me, but I found none.
Ὀνειδισμὸν προσεδόκησεν ἡ ψυχή μου καὶ ταλαιπωρίαν· καὶ ὑπέμεινα συλλυπούμενον, καὶ οὐχ ὑπῆρξε, καὶ παρακαλοῦντα, καὶ οὐχ εὗρον.
"In Your sight are all they that trouble Me". Why I have reproach, You know; why confusion, You know; why shame, You know: therefore deliver me because of mine enemies, because You know these things of me, they know not; and thus, because they are themselves in Your sight, not knowing these things, they will not be…
They gave me also gall for my food, And made me drink vinegar for my thirst.
Καὶ ἔδωκαν εἰς τὸ βρῶμά μου χολὴν, καὶ εἰς τὴν δίψαν μου ἐπότισάν με ὄξος.
Let their table before them be for a snare, And for a recompense, and for a stumbling block.
Γενηθήτω ἡ τράπεζα αὐτῶν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν εἰς παγίδα, καὶ εἰς ἀνταπόδοσιν, καὶ εἰς σκάνδαλον.
"And they gave for My food gall, and in My thirst they gave Me vinegar to drink". This was done indeed to the letter. And the Gospel declares this to us. But we must understand, brethren, that the very fact that I found not comforters, that the very fact that I found not one that together should be made sorrowful,…
Let their eyes be darkened that they should not see; And bow down their back continually.
Σκοτισθήτωσαν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτῶν τοῦ μὴ βλέπειν, καὶ τὸν νῶτον αὐτῶν διαπαντὸς σύγκαμψον.
"Let the table of them be made in their own presence for a trap". Like the trap which for Me they set, in giving Me such a draught, let such a trap be for them. Why then, "in their own presence"? "Let the table of them be made for a trap," would have been sufficient. They are such as know their iniquity, and in it…
Pour out thy wrath upon them, And let the fury of thine anger take hold on them.
Ἔκχεον ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς τὴν ὀργήν σου, καὶ ὁ θυμὸς τῆς ὀργῆς σου καταλάβοι αὐτούς.
"Let the eyes of them be darkened, that they see not, and the back of them always bow down". This is a consequence. For they, whose eyes have been darkened that they see not, it follows, must have their back bowed down. How so? Because when they have ceased to take knowledge of things above, they must needs think of…
Let their habitation be made desolate; And let there be no inhabitant in their tents:
Γενηθήτω ἡ ἔπαυλις αὐτῶν ἠρημωμένη, καὶ ἐν τοῖς σκηνώμασιν αὐτῶν μὴ ἔστω ὁ κατοικῶν·
"Pour forth upon them Your anger, and let the indignation of Your anger overtake them", are plain words: but nevertheless, in "overtake them" we perceive them as it were fleeing. But whither are they to flee? Into Heaven? You are there. Into Hell? You are present. Their wings they will not take to fly straight: "Let…
Because they persecuted him whom thou hast smitten; And they have added to the grief of my wounds.
ὅτι ὃν σὺ ἐπάταξας, αὐτοὶ κατεδίωξαν, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ ἄλγος τῶν τραυμάτων μου προσέθηκαν.
"Let the habitation of them become forsaken." This is now evident. For in the same manner as He hath mentioned not only a secret deliverance of His, saying, "Give heed to My soul, and redeem her;" but also one open after the body, adding, "because of mine enemies deliver me:" so also to these men He foretelleth how…
Add iniquity to their iniquity; And let them not come into thy righteousness.
Πρόσθες ἀνομίαν ἐπὶ τὴν ἀνομίαν αὐτῶν, καὶ μὴ εἰσελθέτωσαν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ σου.
Why so? "For Him whom Thou hast smitten they have themselves persecuted, and upon the pain of my wounds they have added." How then have they sinned if they have persecuted one by God smitten? What sin is ascribed to their mind? Malice. For the thing was done in Christ which was to be. To suffer indeed He had come, and…
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And let them not be written with the righteous.
Ἐξαλειφθήτωσαν ἐκ βίβλου ζώντων, καὶ μετὰ δικαίων μὴ γραφήτωσαν.
"Lay iniquity upon their iniquity". What is this? Who would not be afraid? To God is said, "Lay iniquity upon their iniquity." Whence shall God lay iniquity? For has He iniquity to lay? For we know that to be true which has been spoken through Paul the Apostle, "What then shall we say? Is there anywise iniquity with…
I am poor and sorrowful; But the salvation of thy countenance has helped me.
Πτωχὸς καὶ ἀλγῶν εἰμι ἐγὼ, καὶ ἡ σωτηρία τοῦ προσώπου σου ἀντελάβετό μου.
"Let them be blotted out from the book of the living". For had they been some time written therein? Brethren, we must not so take it, as that God writes any one in the book of life, and blots him out. If a man said, "What I have written I have written," [John 19:22] concerning the title where it had been written,…
I will praise the name of my God with a song, I will magnify him with praise;
Αἰνέσω τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ μου μετʼ ᾠδῆς, μεγαλυνῶ αὐτὸν ἐν αἰνέσει·
"Poor and sorrowful I am". Why this? Is it that we may acknowledge that through bitterness of soul this poor One does speak evil? For He has spoken of many things to happen to them. And as if we were saying to Him, "Why such things?"— "Nay, not so much!" He answers, "poor and sorrowful I am." They have brought Me to…
And this shall please God more than a young calf Having horns and hoofs.
καὶ ἀρέσει τῷ Θεῷ ὑπὲρ μόσχον νέον κέρατα ἐκφέροντα καὶ ὁπλάς.
"And the health of Thy countenance, O God, hath taken Me up." For what purpose? In order that no longer I may be poor, no longer sorrowful? "I will praise the name of the Lord with a song, I will magnify Him in praise." Now it hath been said, this poor One praiseth the name of the Lord with a song, he magnifieth Him…
Let the poor see and rejoice; Seek the Lord diligently, and ye shall live.
Ἰδέτωσαν πτωχοὶ καὶ εὐφρανθήτωσαν· ἐκζητήσατε τὸν Θεὸν, καὶ ζήσεσθε.
"And it shall please God:" that I shall praise Him, shall please: "above a new calf, bearing horns and hoofs." More grateful to Him shall be the sacrifice of praise than the sacrifice of a calf. "The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me." "Immolate to God the sacrifice of praise." So then His praise going forth from…
For the Lord hears the poor, And does not set at nought his fettered ones.
Ὅτι εἰσήκουσε τῶν πενήτων ὁ Κύριος, καὶ τοὺς πεπεδημένους αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐξουδένωσεν.
Let the heavens and the earth praise him, The sea, and all things moving in them.
Αἰνεσάτωσαν αὐτὸν οἱ οὐρανοὶ καὶ ἡ γῆ, θάλασσα καὶ πάντα τὰ ἕρποντα ἐν αὐτοῖς.
"Let there praise Him heavens and earth, sea and all things creeping in them". The true riches of this poor man are these, to consider the creation, and to praise the Creator. "Let there praise Him heavens and earth, sea and all things creeping therein." And does this creation alone praise God, when by considering of…
For God will save Zion, And the cities of Judea shall be built; And men shall dwell there, and inherit it.
Ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς σώσει τὴν Σιὼν, καὶ οἰκοδομηθήσονται αἱ πόλεις τῆς Ἰουδαίας, καὶ κατοικήσουσιν ἐκεῖ, καὶ κληρονομήσουσιν αὐτήν.
Hear thou another thing also: "for God shall save Sion". He restores His Church, the faithful Gentiles He does incorporate with His Only-Begotten; He beguiles not them that believe in Him of the reward of His promise. "For God shall save Sion; and there shall be built the cities of Juda." These same are the Churches.…
Every note is a real passage, quoted word for word from a published English translation, with its source. Nothing here is summarised or written by us. Some verses have many notes and some have none, because the Fathers wrote more on some passages than others.
All of these translations are in the public domain. The passages were matched to their verses by the Historical Christian Commentaries project, which also hosts the full texts we link to. The Fathers are a treasury of the Church's mind, and they are best read alongside the life of the Church: if a passage raises a question, bring it to your priest.