Psalm 69:20
New International Version
Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.

New Living Translation
Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.

English Standard Version
Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.

Berean Standard Bible
Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.

King James Bible
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

New King James Version
Reproach has broken my heart, And I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.

New American Standard Bible
Disgrace has broken my heart, and I am so sick. And I waited for sympathy, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.

NASB 1995
Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, And for comforters, but I found none.

NASB 1977
Reproach has broken my heart, and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, And for comforters, but I found none.

Legacy Standard Bible
Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I hoped for sympathy, but there was none, And for comforters, but I found none.

Amplified Bible
Reproach and insults have broken my heart and I am so sick. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, And for comforters, but I found none.

Christian Standard Bible
Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I waited for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, but found no one.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I waited for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, but found no one.

American Standard Version
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.

Contemporary English Version
I am crushed by insults, and I feel sick. I had hoped for mercy and pity, but there was none.

English Revised Version
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Insults have broken my heart, and I am sick. I looked for sympathy, but there was none. I looked for people to comfort me, but I found no one.

Good News Translation
Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I had hoped for sympathy, but there was none; for comfort, but I found none.

International Standard Version
Insults broke my heart. I despaired and looked for sympathy; but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.

Majority Standard Bible
Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.

NET Bible
Their insults are painful and make me lose heart; I look for sympathy, but receive none, for comforters, but find none.

New Heart English Bible
Insults have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.

Webster's Bible Translation
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

World English Bible
Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Reproach has broken my heart, and I am sick, "" And I look for a bemoaner, and there is none, "" And for comforters, and I have found none.

Young's Literal Translation
Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am sick, And I look for a bemoaner, and there is none, And for comforters, and I have found none.

Smith's Literal Translation
Reproach broke my heart, and I shall be ill at ease: and I shall hope for comforting, and none; and for those consoling, and I found not.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
In thy sight are all they that afflict me; my heart hath expected reproach and misery. And I looked for one that would grieve together with me, but there was none: and for one that would comfort me, and I found none.

Catholic Public Domain Version
All those who trouble me are in your sight; my heart has anticipated reproach and misery. And I sought for one who might grieve together with me, but there was no one, and for one who might console me, and I found no one.

New American Bible
Insult has broken my heart, and I despair; I looked for compassion, but there was none, for comforters, but found none.

New Revised Standard Version
Insults have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
O thou, heal my broken heart and bind it; I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Heal the breaking of my heart and bind it up; I have waited for one to grieve for it, and there is none, and for a comforter, and I have not found one.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am sore sick; And I looked for some to show compassion, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Waters Are Up to My Neck
19You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You. 20Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one. 21They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.…

Cross References
Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Matthew 26:37-38
He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. / Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

John 1:11
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

John 11:33-35
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. / “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. / Jesus wept.

Mark 14:33-34
He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed. / Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”

Luke 22:44
And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

John 15:25
But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’

Romans 15:3
For even Christ did not please Himself, but as it is written: “The insults of those who insult You have fallen on Me.”

Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.

1 Peter 2:23
When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

Lamentations 1:12
Is this nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see! Is there any sorrow like mine, which was inflicted on me, which the LORD made me suffer on the day of His fierce anger?

Job 16:20
My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.

Jeremiah 15:18
Why is my pain unending, and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become like a mirage to me—water that is not there.

Psalm 22:6-7
But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. / All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads:

Psalm 31:9-10
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well. / For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.


Treasury of Scripture

Reproach has broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

Reproach

Psalm 42:10
As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Psalm 123:4
Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.

Hebrews 11:36
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

I am

Psalm 42:6
O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Matthew 26:37,38
And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy…

John 12:27
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

I looked

Isaiah 63:5
And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.

Mark 14:37,50
And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? …

take pity [heb.

Psalm 142:4
I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.

John 16:32
Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

2 Timothy 4:16,17
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge…

comforters

Job 16:2
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

Job 19:21,22
Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me…

Matthew 25:46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Jump to Previous
Bitter Broken Comforter Comforters Compassion Despair Found Full Grief Heart Heaviness Helpless Insults Looked Overwhelmed Pity Reproach Scorn Search Show Sick Sore Sympathy Words
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Bitter Broken Comforter Comforters Compassion Despair Found Full Grief Heart Heaviness Helpless Insults Looked Overwhelmed Pity Reproach Scorn Search Show Sick Sore Sympathy Words
Psalm 69
1. David complains of his affliction
13. He prays for deliverance
22. He devotes his enemies to destruction
30. He praises God with thanksgiving














Scorn
The Hebrew word for "scorn" is "cherpah," which conveys a sense of disgrace or reproach. In the historical context of the Psalms, scorn often came from enemies or those who opposed the psalmist's devotion to God. This word reflects the deep emotional pain caused by being ridiculed or dishonored, especially when one is striving to live righteously. In a broader scriptural context, Jesus Himself experienced scorn, fulfilling the prophetic nature of this psalm as He was mocked and ridiculed during His crucifixion.

has broken my heart
The phrase "has broken my heart" uses the Hebrew word "shabar," meaning to shatter or crush. This vivid imagery speaks to the profound emotional and spiritual anguish the psalmist feels. In biblical times, the heart was considered the center of one's being, encompassing emotions, will, and intellect. The breaking of the heart signifies a deep, almost unbearable sorrow, akin to the suffering of Christ, who bore the weight of humanity's sin and sorrow.

and left me helpless
The term "helpless" in Hebrew is "nashah," which can mean to be sick, weak, or faint. This word choice emphasizes the psalmist's vulnerability and inability to find strength within himself. Historically, this reflects the human condition of utter dependence on God, especially in times of distress. It is a reminder of our need for divine intervention and the sustaining power of God's presence.

I looked for sympathy
"Sympathy" here is translated from the Hebrew "nuwd," which means to show compassion or to console. The psalmist's search for sympathy highlights the human desire for understanding and empathy from others. In the biblical narrative, this longing is often unmet by people but fulfilled by God, who is described as the ultimate comforter and source of compassion.

but there was none
This phrase underscores the isolation and abandonment felt by the psalmist. It reflects a common theme in the Psalms where the writer feels forsaken by friends and allies. This sense of loneliness is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus, in His moment of greatest need, was deserted by His disciples, illustrating the fulfillment of this prophetic lament.

for comforters
The word "comforters" comes from the Hebrew "nacham," which means to console or to bring relief. Comforters are those who provide solace in times of distress. The absence of comforters in this verse points to the psalmist's deep sense of isolation. In a broader theological context, it reminds believers that while human comfort may fail, God's comfort is ever-present and sufficient.

but I found no one
This final phrase emphasizes the complete abandonment experienced by the psalmist. It is a poignant reminder of the loneliness that can accompany suffering. Historically, this reflects the experiences of many biblical figures who felt alone in their trials. Yet, it also points to the hope found in God, who promises never to leave nor forsake His people, offering a profound sense of belonging and assurance even in the darkest times.

(20) I am full of heaviness.--Rather, I am sick. The word here used (with its cognates), as well as that rendered pity in the next clause, are favourite words with Jeremiah, as also are the figures of the next verse. (See Jeremiah 8:14; Jeremiah 9:15; Jeremiah 23:15.)

Verse 20. - Reproach hath broken my heart. (comp. vers. 7, 9, 19). Some of his enemies' reproaches were, no doubt, based on David's old misdoings. These, which he could not rebut, would cause him the severest pain. And I am full of heaviness; or, "full of sickness;" "very sick" (Kay); "sick to death" (Delitzsch). And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. It is questioned whether David was ever without friends to pity and comfort him, and suggested that at this point he passes from narrative to prophecy, and describes, not his own condition, but that of the Messiah, whom he typified, speaking as he was moved by the Holy Ghost. Jesus was certainly left without pity or comfort, when "all the disciples forsook him, and fled" (Matthew 26:56).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Insults
חֶרְפָּ֤ה ׀ (ḥer·pāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2781: Contumely, disgrace, the pudenda

have broken
שָֽׁבְרָ֥ה (šā·ḇə·rāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7665: To break, break in pieces

my heart,
לִבִּ֗י (lib·bî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

and I am in despair.
וָֽאָ֫נ֥וּשָׁה (wā·’ā·nū·šāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5136: To be sick, distressed

I looked
וָאֲקַוֶּ֣ה (wā·’ă·qaw·weh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6960: To bind together, collect, to expect

for sympathy,
לָנ֣וּד (lā·nūḏ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5110: To nod, waver, to wander, flee, disappear, to console, deplore, taunt

but there was none,
וָאַ֑יִן (wā·’a·yin)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

for comforters,
וְ֝לַמְנַחֲמִ֗ים (wə·lam·na·ḥă·mîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5162: To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avenge

but I found
מָצָֽאתִי׃ (mā·ṣā·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

no one.
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no


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OT Poetry: Psalm 69:20 Reproach has broken my heart and (Psalm Ps Psa.)
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