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.

Save me, O God; for the waters are 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 sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

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

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: my eyes fail while I wait 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.

They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: they that would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty: 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, you know my foolishness; and my sins are not hid 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.

Let not them that wait on you, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek you be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

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

Because for your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face.

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

I am become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien 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 your house has eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached you are fallen on me.

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

When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

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

I made sackcloth also my garment; 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 speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

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, my prayer is to you, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of your mercy hear me, in the truth of your salvation.

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

Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of 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 flood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth on 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 your loving kindness is good: turn to me according to the multitude of your tender mercies.

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

And hide not your face from your servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.

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

Draw near to my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of my enemies.

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

You have known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor: my adversaries 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.

Reproach has broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, 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 meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

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

Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.

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

Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

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

Pour out your indignation on them, and let your wrathful anger take hold of them.

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

Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.

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

For they persecute him whom you have smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom you have wounded.

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

Add iniquity to their iniquity: and 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 them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

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

But I am poor and sorrowful: let your salvation, O God, set me up on high.

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

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

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

This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that has horns and hoofs.

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

The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

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

For the LORD hears the poor, and despises not his prisoners.

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

Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moves therein.

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 will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.

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

The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.