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 Chief Musician; set to Shoshannim. [A Psalm] of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto 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 with my crying; my throat is dried: mine 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 mine head: they that would cut me off, being mine 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, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid 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 be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of hosts: let not those that seek thee be brought to dishonour through me, O God of Israel.

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

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath 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 unto my brethren, and an alien unto 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 hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon 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.

When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a proverb unto them.

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

They that sit in the gate talk of me; and [I am] 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 unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy, answer 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.

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 waterflood overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

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

Answer me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies turn thou unto me.

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

And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in distress; answer me speedily.

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

Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: ransom me because of mine enemies.

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

Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all 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.

Reproach hath 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 before them become a snare; and when they are in peace, [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 thine indignation upon them, and let the fierceness 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; 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 thou hast smitten; and they tell of the sorrow of those whom thou hast wounded,

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

Add iniquity unto 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 life, 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 thy 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.

And it shall please the LORD better than an ox, [or] a bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

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

The meek have seen it, and are glad: ye that seek after God, let your heart live.

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

For the LORD heareth the needy, and despiseth not his prisoners.

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

Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth 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 build the cities of Judah; and they shall abide 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.