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 music director. To the tune “Lilies.” A psalm of David. God, please save me, because the water is up 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.

I'm sinking deeper into the mud—there's no solid ground for me to stand. I find myself in deep water; floods wash over me.

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

I'm so tired of screaming out for help my throat is totally raw. My eyes are worn out looking for my God to help me.

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 hate me for no reason are more than the number of hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me by telling lies. How can I give back what I didn't steal?

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

God, you know how foolish I am! My sins are not hidden from 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.

Don't let those who trust you be ashamed because of me, Lord God Almighty. Don't let those who follow you be disgraced because of me, God of Israel.

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

For your sake I put up with the insults; my face shows my embarrassment.

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

I have become a foreigner to my brother Israelites; a stranger to my very own brothers.

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

My devotion for your house is burning me up inside; the insults of those who insulted you have fallen on me.

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

I wept and I fasted, but they mocked me;

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

I mourned in sackcloth, but they laughed at me.

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

People sitting by the town gate gossip about me. I'm the subject of rude songs sung by drunks.

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 my prayer is to you, Lord, believing this is a good time to respond to me. God, in your wonderful trustworthy love, answer me with your sure salvation.

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

Please rescue me from the mud—don't let me sink! Save me from those who hate me and from drowning in 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.

Don't let the flood waters wash over me. Don't let the deep waters pull me down. Don't let the grave close over me.

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

Please answer my prayers, Lord, for you are good and love me with your trustworthy love; because of your kindness, please help me.

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

Don't turn away from me, your servant. Please answer me quickly because I'm in trouble.

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

Come here and rescue me; set me free from my enemies.

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

You—you know my shame, my disgrace, my humiliation. You see everything my enemies are doing.

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.

Insults have broken my heart—I am so sick there is no cure. I looked for some sympathy, but there was no one! Nobody showed me any compassion.

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

Instead they gave me bitter herbs to eat and vinegar to drink.

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

May the table set before them become a trap for them, a net that catches them, bringing punishment.

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

May their eyes become blind so they cannot see, and may their backs always be bent low in dejection.

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

Pour out your judgment on them; chase them down in your fierce anger.

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

Let the places where they live be deserted. Let their homes be abandoned.

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

For they persecute those you have punished, and make it even more painful for those you have disciplined.

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

Punish them for the evil they have done. Don't acquit them.

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

Blot out their names from the Book of Life. Don't let them be listed with those who do right.

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

But I am suffering and in physical pain. God, please save me and keep me safe.

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

I will praise God's character in song; I will say how incredible he is and how thankful I am.

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

The Lord is happier with this than with offering animals as sacrifices: cattle, or bulls with horns and hooves.

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

The humble will see this and be happy. May God encourage everyone who comes to him.

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

God hears the poor, and he does not ignore his people who are in prison.

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

Praise him heaven and earth, the seas and everything that lives 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 Zion, and rebuild the cities of Judah. They will live there and own the land.

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

The descendants of those who follow him will inherit the land, and those who love him will live there.