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.

To the Overseer. — 'On the Lilies,' by David. Save me, O God, for come have waters unto the 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 have sunk in deep mire, And there is no standing, I have come into the depths of the waters, And a flood hath overflown me.

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

I have been wearied with my calling, Burnt hath been my throat, Consumed have been mine eyes, waiting 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.

Those hating me without cause Have been more than the hairs of my head, Mighty have been my destroyers, My lying enemies, That which I took not away — I bring back.

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

O God, Thou — Thou hast known Concerning my overturn, And my desolations from Thee have not been hid.

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 those waiting on Thee be ashamed because of me, O Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, Let not those seeking Thee Blush because of me, O God of Israel.

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

For because of Thee 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,

A stranger I have been to my brother, And a foreigner to sons of my mother.

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 hath consumed me, And the reproaches of Thy reproachers Have fallen upon me.

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

And I weep in the fasting of my soul, And it is for a reproach to me.

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

And I make my clothing sackcloth, And I am to them for a simile.

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

Those sitting at the gate meditate concerning me, And those drinking strong drink, Play on instruments.

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.

And I — my prayer [is] to Thee, O Jehovah, A time of good pleasure, O God, In the abundance of Thy kindness, 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 from the mire, and let me not sink, Let me be delivered from those hating me, And from deep places of 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 a flood of waters overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up, Nor let 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 Jehovah, for good [is] Thy kindness, According to the abundance Of Thy 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 — haste, answer me.

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

Be near unto my soul — redeem it, Because of mine enemies ransom me.

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

Thou — Thou hast known my reproach, And my shame, and my blushing, Before Thee [are] all mine adversaries.

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 sick, And I look for a bemoaner, and there is none, And for comforters, and I have found none.

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

And they give for my food gall, And for my thirst cause me to drink vinegar.

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

Their table before them is for a snare, And for a recompence — for a trap.

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

Darkened are their eyes from seeing, And their loins continually shake Thou.

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

Pour upon them Thine indignation, And the fierceness of Thine anger doth seize them.

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

Their tower is desolated, In their tents there is no dweller.

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

For they have pursued him Thou hast smitten, And recount of the pain of Thy pierced ones.

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

Give punishment for their iniquity, And they enter not into Thy righteousness.

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

They are blotted out of the book of life, And with the righteous are not written.

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

And I [am] afflicted and pained, Thy salvation, O God, doth set me on high.

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

I praise the name of God with a song, And I 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 is better to Jehovah than an ox, A bullock — horned — hoofed.

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

The humble have seen — they rejoice, Ye who seek God — and your heart liveth.

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

For Jehovah hearkeneth unto the needy, And His bound ones He hath not despised.

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

The heavens and earth do praise Him, Seas, and every moving thing in them.

35 For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.

For God doth save Zion, And doth build the cities of Judah, And they have dwelt there, and possess 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 inherit it, And those loving His name dwell in it!