Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
The verse pictures being forced to wade through a tide of oppression where deep waters threaten to overflow and cause sinking. The overflowing flood and the deep are unbelief, jealousy, false accusation, and cruel underhanded work coming from brethren. That opposition includes charges of self-enrichment, such as having too good a horse and making money, directed against one living in poverty, sacrifice, and suffering for the truth. To be overflowed and to sink is to be crushed in spirit and bodily strength under that weight, almost to the point of giving up the work.
The verse pictures being forced to wade through a tide of oppression where deep waters threaten to overflow and cause sinking. The overflowing flood and the deep are unbelief, jealousy, false accusation, and cruel underhanded work coming from brethren. That opposition includes charges of self-enrichment, such as having too good a horse and making money, directed against one living in poverty, sacrifice, and suffering for the truth. To be overflowed and to sink is to be crushed in spirit and bodily strength under that weight, almost to the point of giving up the work.