Psalms 69

1 For the end, [a Psalm] of David, for alternate [strains]. Save me, O God; for the waters have come in to my soul.

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.

2 I am stuck fast in deep mire, and there is no standing: I am come in to the depths of the sea, and a storm has overwhelmed me.

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.

3 I am weary [of] crying, my throat has become hoarse; mine eyes have failed by my waiting on my God.

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

4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: my enemies that persecute me unrighteously are strengthened: then I restored that which I took not away.

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.

5 O God, you know my foolishness; and my transgressions are not hidden from you.

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

6 Let not them that wait on you, O Lord of hosts, be ashamed on my account: let not them that seek you, be ashamed on my account, O God of Israel.

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.

7 For I have suffered reproach for your sake; shame has covered my face.

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

8 I became strange to my brethren, and a stranger to my mother's children.

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

9 For the zeal of your house has eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached you are fallen upon me.

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

10 And I bowed down my soul with fasting, and that was made my reproach.

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

11 And I put on sackcloth for my covering; and I became a proverb to them.

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

12 They that sit in the gate talked against me, and they that drank wine sang against me.

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

13 But I [will cry] to you, O Lord, in my prayer; O God, it is a propitious time: in the multitude of your mercy hear me, in the truth of your salvation.

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.

14 Save me from the mire, that I stick not [in it]: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and from the deep waters.

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.

15 Let not the waterflood drown me, nor let the deep swallow me up; neither let the well shut its mouth upon me.

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.

16 Hear me, O Lord; for your mercy is good: according to the multitude of your compassions look upon me.

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

17 And turn not away your face from your servant; for I am afflicted: hear me speedily.

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

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

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

19 For you know my reproach, and my shame, and my confusion; all that afflict me are before you.

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

20 My soul has waited for reproach and misery; and I waited for one to grieve with me, but there was none; and for one to comfort me, but I found none.

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.

21 They gave [me] also gall for my food, and made me drink vinegar for my thirst.

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

22 Let their table before them be for a snare, and for a recompense, and for a stumbling block.

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

23 Let their eyes be darkened that they should not see; and bow down their back continually.

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

24 Pour out your wrath upon them, and let the fury of your anger take hold on them.

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

25 Let their habitation be made desolate; and let there be no inhabitant in their tents:

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

26 Because they persecuted him whom you have struck; and they have added to the grief of my wounds.

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

27 Add iniquity to their iniquity; and let them not come into your righteousness.

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

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and let them not be written with the righteous.

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

29 I am poor and sorrowful; but the salvation of your countenance has helped me.

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

30 I will praise the name of my God with a song, I will magnify him with praise;

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

31 and [this] shall please God more than a young calf having horns and hoofs.

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

32 Let the poor see and rejoice; seek the Lord diligently, and you shall live.

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

33 For the Lord hears the poor, and does not set at nothing his fettered ones.

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

34 Let the heavens and the earth raise him, the sea, and all things moving in them.

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

35 For God will save Sion, and the cities of Judea shall be built; and [men] shall dwell there, and inherit it.

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.

36 And the seed of his servants shall possess it, and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

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