< 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 leader of the music. Upon the Shoshannim. A psalm of David.” Save me, O God! For the waters press in to my very life!
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 is no standing; I have come into deep waters, and the waves flow over me.
3 I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
I am weary with crying; my throat is parched; Mine eyes are wasted, 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.
More numerous than the hairs of my head are they who hate me without reason; Mighty are they who seek to destroy me, being my enemies without cause: I must restore what I took not away.
5 You know my folly, O God, and my guilt is not hidden from You.
O God! thou knowest my offences, And my sins 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 trust in thee through me be put to shame, O Lord Jehovah, God of hosts! Let not them that seek thee through me be confounded, O God of Israel!
7 For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face.
For on account of thee do I suffer reproach, And shame covereth 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; Yea, an alien to my mother's sons.
9 because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.
For zeal for thy house consumeth me, And the reproaches of them that reproach thee fall upon me.
10 I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach.
When I weep and fast, That is made my reproach;
11 I made sackcloth my clothing, and I was sport to them.
When I clothe myself in sackcloth, Then I become their by-word.
12 Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of drunkards.
They who sit in the gate speak against me, And I am become the song of 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.
Yet will I address my prayer to thee, O LORD! May it be in an acceptable time according to thy great goodness! Hear, O God! and afford me thy sure help!
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, and let me not sink; May I be delivered from my enemies, —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 water-flood overflow me; Let not the deep swallow me up, And let not the pit close her 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! since great is thy loving-kindness; According to the abundance of thy tender mercies look upon me!
17 Hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!
Hide not thy face from thy servant; I am greatly distressed, O make haste to mine aid!
18 Draw near to my soul and redeem me; ransom me because of my foes.
Draw near to me, and redeem my life; Deliver me because of my enemies!
19 You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You.
Thou knowest my reproach, and dishonor, and shame; All my adversaries are in thy view!
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 hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I look for pity, but there is none; For comforters, but find none.
21 They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.
For my food they give me gall, And in my thirst they give me vinegar to drink.
22 May their table become a snare; may it be a retribution and a trap.
May their table be to them a snare; May it be a trap to them, while they are at ease!
23 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.
May their eyes be darkened, that they may not see; And cause their loins continually to shake!
24 Pour out Your wrath upon them, and let Your burning anger overtake them.
Pour out upon them thine indignation, And may the heat of thine anger overtake 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 those whom thou hast smitten, And talk of the pain of those whom thou hast wounded.
27 Add iniquity to their iniquity; let them not share in Your righteousness.
Add iniquity to their iniquity, And let them never come into thy favor!
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; Let not their names 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: May thine aid, O God! set me on high!
30 I will praise God’s name in song and exalt Him with thanksgiving.
Then I will praise the name of God in a song; I will give glory to him with thanksgiving.
31 And this will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.
More pleasing shall this be to the LORD Than a full-horned and full-hoofed bullock.
32 The humble will see and rejoice. You who seek God, let your hearts be revived!
The afflicted shall see, and rejoice; The hearts of them that fear God shall be revived.
33 For the LORD listens to the needy and does not despise His captive people.
For the LORD heareth the poor, And despiseth not his people in their bonds.
34 Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.
Let the heaven and the earth praise him; The sea, and all that move 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 therein, and possess it.
36 The descendants of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will settle in it.
Yea, the posterity of his servants shall possess it, And they that love him shall dwell therein.

< Psalms 69 >