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.

For the end, [a Psalm] of David, for alternate [strains]. Save me, O God; for the waters have come in to my soul.

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

I am stuck fast in deep mire, and there is no standing: I am come in to the depths of the sea, and a storm has overwhelmed me.

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

I am weary [of] crying, my throat has become hoarse; mine eyes have failed by my waiting on 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.

They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: my enemies that persecute me unrighteously are strengthened: then I restored that which I took not away.

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

O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my transgressions are not hidden from thee.

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 them that wait on thee, O Lord of hosts, be ashamed on my account: let not them that seek thee, be ashamed on my account, O God of Israel.

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

For I have suffered reproach for thy sake; shame has covered my face.

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

I became strange to my brethren, and a stranger 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.

For the zeal of thine house has eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

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

And I bowed down my soul with fasting, and that was made my reproach.

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

And I put on sackcloth for my covering; and I became a proverb to them.

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

They that sit in the gate talked against me, and they that drank wine sang against me.

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 I [will cry] to thee, O Lord, in my prayer; O God, it is a propitious time: in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

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

Save me from the mire, that I stick not [in it]: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and 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 not the waterflood drown me, nor let the deep swallow me up; neither let the well shut its mouth upon me.

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

Hear me, O Lord; for thy mercy is good: according to the multitude of thy compassions look upon me.

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

And turn not away thy face from thy servant; for I am afflicted: hear me speedily.

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

Draw nigh to my soul and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.

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

For thou knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my confusion; all that afflict me are before thee.

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 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.

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

They gave [me] also gall for my food, and made me drink vinegar for my thirst.

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

Let their table before them be for a snare, and for a recompense, and for a stumbling-block.

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

Let their eyes be darkened that they should not see; and bow down their back continually.

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

Pour out thy wrath upon them, and let the fury of thine anger take hold on them.

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

Let their habitation be made desolate; and let there be no inhabitant in their tents:

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

Because they persecuted him whom thou hast smitten; and they have added to the grief of my wounds.

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

Add iniquity to their iniquity; and let them not come into thy righteousness.

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

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and let them not be written with the righteous.

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

I am poor and sorrowful; but the salvation of thy countenance has helped me.

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

I will praise the name of my God with a song, I will magnify him with praise;

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

and [this] shall please God more than a young calf having horns and hoofs.

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

Let the poor see and rejoice; seek the Lord diligently, and ye shall live.

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

For the Lord hears the poor, and does not set at nought his fettered ones.

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

Let the heavens and the earth raise him, the sea, and all things 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 save Sion, and the cities of Judea shall be built; and [men] shall dwell there, and inherit it.

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

And the seed of his servants shall possess it, and they that love his name shall dwell therein.