Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
David isn't just asking God to listen; he's pleading for a divine intervention that's visible and swift. He calls himself God's "servant" not as a humble title, but as a reminder of their relationship, implying a bond that God shouldn't ignore, especially when distress is so overwhelming.
Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is in deep distress, feeling overwhelmed and forsaken, likening his situation to sinking in mud and floodwaters. He appeals to God, his servant, to not turn away from him in this desperate state, emphasizing his urgency and the severity of his suffering. This plea for immediate divine intervention comes amidst a torrent of enemies who hate him without cause, and it's a cry born from a profound sense of helplessness.
Ever felt like God's face is hidden from you, especially when you're in deep trouble? The Psalmist felt this keenly.
The phrase "hide not your face" is a powerful plea. It's not just about God looking away; it's about a feeling of abandonment. When we're in distress, it feels like God's presence has vanished. The Psalmist, however, leans into his identity as God's "servant." This isn't a boast, but a reminder of their relationship and a plea based on that connection. He's saying, 'You know me, you've called me, I belong to You. Don't turn away now.' This highlights that our relationship with God, even in our struggles, is the foundation for asking for His help. He sees us, even when we feel unseen.
Sometimes, the weight of our problems feels so immense that 'waiting' isn't an option. This is that kind of plea.
The Psalmist doesn't just say 'I'm in trouble'; he declares, 'for I am in distress.' The original language emphasizes a state of being pressed in, cornered, or in a tight spot. This isn't a minor inconvenience; it's a crisis. Because of this extreme pressure, he adds a crucial phrase: 'make haste to answer me.' This isn't impatience with God, but an honest cry from a soul on the brink. It acknowledges that their situation is dire and requires immediate divine intervention. The urgency stems from the severity of the trouble, not a lack of faith in God's timing, but a desperate need for His saving power to be made manifest now.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
tsar · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
A state of being in narrow, tight circumstances, symbolizing extreme difficulty, anguish, or tribulation that traps an individual.
This psalm's intense suffering and plea for God not to hide His face resonate deeply with the experience of Jesus on the cross, who felt forsaken even as He fulfilled God's redemptive plan.
c. 6th century BC
Babylonian Exile
The Kingdom of Judah is conquered by Babylon, its people and treasures are deported, and Jerusalem and its Temple are destroyed. This period of exile deeply impacted Jewish identity and theology.
c. 5th century BC
Post-Exilic Period
Following the return from Babylonian exile, the Jewish people faced challenges rebuilding their society and maintaining their religious practices under foreign rule, often experiencing hardship and opposition.
c. 2nd century BC
Maccabean Revolt
A Jewish uprising against the Seleucid Empire, sparked by religious persecution. This period saw intense conflict and suffering for those loyal to Jewish tradition.
c. 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
Jesus, seen by many Christians as the Suffering Servant, experienced intense opposition, betrayal, and a torturous death, fulfilling many Old Testament prophecies, including aspects of this psalm.
This verse echoes the plea to 'not hide Your face' and implores God's guidance and protection in times of distress, mirroring the psalmist's urgent need in Psalm 69:17.
Isaiah 42:1This passage describes the 'servant' whom God upholds and delights in, providing a theological backdrop for the psalmist's claim of being God's servant when appealing for help.
Lamentations 3:55-58Here, the prophet cries out from distress, calling to God from the depths, much like the psalmist in Psalm 69:17, seeking deliverance and a swift answer from God's presence.
Mark 15:34Jesus' cry from the cross, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?', can be seen as a fulfillment of the psalmist's cry to God not to hide His face, highlighting profound suffering and the sense of abandonment.
Jeremiah 15:15Similar to Psalm 69:17, Jeremiah pleads with God to 'hasten' to deliver him from his enemies, emphasizing the desperate need for divine intervention in the face of overwhelming opposition.
calvinPsalms 69:14-18: "Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters."
- Deliver me from the mire, that I may not sink: let me be delivered from my adversaries, and from the deep waters. 15. Let not the flood of waters overflow me; and let not the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit [82] close its mouth upon me. 16. Answer me, O Jehovah! for thy mercy [83] is good: in the multitude of thy compassions [84] look upon me. 1…
cambridgePsalms 69:17: "And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily."
17 . The Psalmist pleads his calling: surely God cannot continue to withhold His favour and help from one who is bound to His service and devoted to His cause. The plea would have special force if the Psalmist was a prophet like Jeremiah ( Amos 3:7 ). Cp. Psalm 27:9 ; Psalm 31:16 ; Psalm 44:24 ; &c. for I am in trouble &c.] Because I am in a strait, answer me speedily.
David isn't just asking God to listen; he's pleading for a divine intervention that's visible and swift. He calls himself God's "servant" not as a humble title, but as a reminder of their relationship, implying a bond that God shouldn't ignore, especially when distress is so overwhelming.
The psalmist is in deep distress, feeling overwhelmed and forsaken, likening his situation to sinking in mud and floodwaters. He appeals to God, his servant, to not turn away from him in this desperate state, emphasizing his urgency and the severity of his suffering. This plea for immediate divine intervention comes amidst a torrent of enemies who hate him without cause, and it's a cry born from a profound sense of helplessness.
The psalmist is in deep distress, feeling overwhelmed and forsaken, likening his situation to sinking in mud and floodwaters. He appeals to God, his servant, to not turn away from him in this desperate state, emphasizing his urgency and the severity of his suffering. This plea for immediate divine intervention comes amidst a torrent of enemies who hate him without cause, and it's a cry born from a profound sense of helplessness.
"Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me." — David isn't just asking God to listen; he's pleading for a divine intervention that's visible and swift. He calls himself God's "servant" not as a humble title, but as a reminder of their relationshi…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026