Psalms 69

1 To the chief music-maker; put to Shoshannim. Of David. Be my saviour, O God; because the waters have come in, even to my neck.

[For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Lilies." By David.] Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck.

2 My feet are deep in the soft earth, where there is no support; I have come into deep waters, the waves are flowing over me.

I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

3 I am tired with my crying; my throat is burning: my eyes are wasted with waiting for my God.

I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

4 Those who have hate for me without cause are greater in number than the hairs of my head; those who are against me, falsely desiring my destruction, are very strong; I gave back what I had not taken away.

Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I did not take away.

5 O God, you see how foolish I am; and my wrongdoing is clear to you.

God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren't hidden from you.

6 Let not those who have hope in you be put to shame because of me, O Lord God of armies: let not those who are waiting for you be made low because of me, O God of Israel.

Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame because of me, LORD of hosts. Do not let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel.

7 I have been wounded with sharp words because of you; my face has been covered with shame.

Because for your sake I suffer insults. Shame has covered my face.

8 I have become strange to my brothers, and like a man from a far country to my mother's children.

I have become a stranger to my brothers, a foreigner to my mother's children.

9 I am on fire with passion for your house; and the hard things which are said about you have come on me.

For the zeal of your house consumes me. The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.

10 My bitter weeping, and my going without food, were turned to my shame.

When I wept and I fasted, it brought me insults.

11 When I put on the clothing of grief, they said evil of me.

When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

12 I am a cause of wonder to those in authority; a song to those who are given to strong drink.

Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.

13 But as for me, let my prayer be made to you, O Lord, at a time when you are pleased; O God, give me an answer in your great mercy, for your salvation is certain.

But as for me, my prayer is to you, LORD, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.

14 Take me from the grip of the sticky earth, so that I may not go down into it; let me be lifted up from the deep waters.

Deliver me out of the mire, and do not let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.

15 Let me not be covered by the flowing waters; let not the deep waters go over my head, and let me not be shut up in the underworld.

Do not let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Do not let the pit shut its mouth on me.

16 Give an answer to my words, O Lord; for your mercy is good: be turned to me, because of your great pity.

Answer me, LORD, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.

17 Let not your face be covered from your servant, for I am in trouble; quickly give me an answer.

Do not hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily.

18 Come near to my soul, for its salvation: be my saviour, because of those who are against me.

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

19 You have seen my shame, how I was laughed at and made low; my haters are all before you.

You know how I am insulted, and my shame, and my disgrace. My adversaries are all before you.

20 My heart is broken by bitter words, I am full of grief; I made a search for some to have pity on me, but there was no one; I had no comforter.

Insults have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.

21 They gave me poison for my food; and bitter wine for my drink.

They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

22 Let their table before them be for their destruction; let their feasts become a net to take them.

Let their table before them become a snare, and a retribution, and a trap, and a stumbling block.

23 Let their eyes be blind so that they may not see; let their bodies for ever be shaking.

Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can't see, and make their backs weak continually.

24 Let your curse come on them; let the heat of your wrath overtake them.

Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.

25 Give their houses to destruction, and let there be no one in their tents.

Let their habitation be desolate, and let no one dwell in their tents.

26 Because they are cruel to him against whom your hand is turned; they make bitter the grief of him who is wounded by you.

For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.

27 Let their punishment be increased; let them not come into your righteousness.

Charge them with crime upon crime. Do not let them come into your righteousness.

28 Let their names be taken from the book of the living, let them not be numbered with the upright.

Let them be blotted out of the Book of Life, and not be written with the righteous.

29 But I am poor and full of sorrow; let me be lifted up by your salvation, O Lord.

But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.

30 I will give praise to the name of God with a song; I will give glory to him for what he has done.

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

31 This will be more pleasing to the Lord than an ox, or a young ox of full growth.

It will please the LORD better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.

32 The poor will see it and be glad: you who are lovers of God, let your hearts have life.

The humble will see it and rejoice. You who seek after God, let your heart live.

33 For the ears of the Lord are open to the poor, and he takes thought for his prisoners.

For the LORD hears the needy, and doesn't despise his captive people.

34 Let the heavens and the earth give praise to him, the seas, and everything moving in them.

Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves in them.

35 For God will be the saviour of Zion, and the builder of the towns of Judah; so that it may be their resting-place and heritage.

For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.

36 The seed of his servants will have their part in it, and there the lovers of his name will have rest.

The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell in it.