Psalms 69:26
“For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.”
What does Psalms 69:26 mean?
When someone is already suffering, it can feel especially cruel when others pile on blame or mockery. This psalm speaks to that painful reality: the psalmist is saying that people who were already in distress from God's discipline are then further attacked by those around them. Instead of offering comfort, others seem to enjoy pointing out their pain and using it against them. The deeper truth here is an appeal to God's mercy. The psalmist is essentially saying, "I'm already hurting from my own struggles; please don't let me be destroyed by the added weight of others' cruelty." It's a very human cry that many of us can recognize, whether we're experiencing hardship ourselves or watching someone we care about suffer while facing judgment from others. The verse invites us to consider how we respond to people in difficulty, and reminds us that God sees both the original wound and the added wounds of shame.