Psalms 69

1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.

To the chief music-maker; put to Shoshannim. Of David. Be my saviour, O God; because the waters have come in, even to my neck.

2 I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.

My feet are deep in the soft earth, where there is no support; I have come into deep waters, the waves are flowing over me.

3 I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

I am tired with my crying; my throat is burning: my eyes are wasted with waiting for my God.

4 Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me— my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.

Those who have hate for me without cause are greater in number than the hairs of my head; those who are against me, falsely desiring my destruction, are very strong; I gave back what I had not taken away.

5 You know my folly, O God, and my guilt is not hidden from You.

O God, you see how foolish I am; and my wrongdoing is clear to you.

6 May those who hope in You not be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of Hosts; may those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel.

Let not those who have hope in you be put to shame because of me, O Lord God of armies: let not those who are waiting for you be made low because of me, O God of Israel.

7 For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face.

I have been wounded with sharp words because of you; my face has been covered with shame.

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

I have become strange to my brothers, and like a man from a far country to my mother's children.

9 because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

I am on fire with passion for your house; and the hard things which are said about you have come on me.

10 I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach.

My bitter weeping, and my going without food, were turned to my shame.

11 I made sackcloth my clothing, and I was sport to them.

When I put on the clothing of grief, they said evil of me.

12 Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of drunkards.

I am a cause of wonder to those in authority; a song to those who are given to strong drink.

13 But my prayer to You, O LORD, is for a time of favor. In Your abundant loving devotion, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation.

But as for me, let my prayer be made to you, O Lord, at a time when you are pleased; O God, give me an answer in your great mercy, for your salvation is certain.

14 Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters.

Take me from the grip of the sticky earth, so that I may not go down into it; let me be lifted up from the deep waters.

15 Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me.

Let me not be covered by the flowing waters; let not the deep waters go over my head, and let me not be shut up in the underworld.

16 Answer me, O LORD, for Your loving devotion is good; turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.

Give an answer to my words, O Lord; for your mercy is good: be turned to me, because of your great pity.

17 Hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!

Let not your face be covered from your servant, for I am in trouble; quickly give me an answer.

18 Draw near to my soul and redeem me; ransom me because of my foes.

Come near to my soul, for its salvation: be my saviour, because of those who are against me.

19 You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You.

You have seen my shame, how I was laughed at and made low; my haters are all before you.

20 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.

My heart is broken by bitter words, I am full of grief; I made a search for some to have pity on me, but there was no one; I had no comforter.

21 They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

They gave me poison for my food; and bitter wine for my drink.

22 May their table become a snare; may it be a retribution and a trap.

Let their table before them be for their destruction; let their feasts become a net to take them.

23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.

Let their eyes be blind so that they may not see; let their bodies for ever be shaking.

24 Pour out Your wrath upon them, and let Your burning anger overtake them.

Let your curse come on them; let the heat of your wrath overtake them.

25 May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.

Give their houses to destruction, and let there be no one in their tents.

26 For they persecute the one You struck and recount the pain of those You wounded.

Because they are cruel to him against whom your hand is turned; they make bitter the grief of him who is wounded by you.

27 Add iniquity to their iniquity; let them not share in Your righteousness.

Let their punishment be increased; let them not come into your righteousness.

28 May they be blotted out of the Book of Life and not listed with the righteous.

Let their names be taken from the book of the living, let them not be numbered with the upright.

29 But I am in pain and distress; let Your salvation protect me, O God.

But I am poor and full of sorrow; let me be lifted up by your salvation, O Lord.

30 I will praise God’s name in song and exalt Him with thanksgiving.

I will give praise to the name of God with a song; I will give glory to him for what he has done.

31 And this will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.

This will be more pleasing to the Lord than an ox, or a young ox of full growth.

32 The humble will see and rejoice. You who seek God, let your hearts be revived!

The poor will see it and be glad: you who are lovers of God, let your hearts have life.

33 For the LORD listens to the needy and does not despise His captive people.

For the ears of the Lord are open to the poor, and he takes thought for his prisoners.

34 Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.

Let the heavens and the earth give praise to him, the seas, and everything moving in them.

35 For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.

For God will be the saviour of Zion, and the builder of the towns of Judah; so that it may be their resting-place and heritage.

36 The descendants of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will settle in it.

The seed of his servants will have their part in it, and there the lovers of his name will have rest.