Psalms 69

1 Unto the end, for them that shall be changed; for David. SAVE me, O God: for the waters are come in even unto my soul.

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.

2 I stick fast in the mire of the deep: and there is no sure standing. I am come into the depth of the sea: and a tempest hath overwhelmed me.

I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.

3 I have laboured with crying; my jaws are become hoarse: my eyes have failed, whilst I hope in my God.

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

4 They are multiplied above the hairs of my head, who hate me without cause. My enemies are grown strong who have wrongfully persecuted me: then did I pay that which I took not away.

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.

5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my offences are not hidden from thee:

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

6 Let not them be ashamed for me, who look for thee, O Lord, the Lord of hosts. Let them not be confounded on my account, who seek thee, O God of Israel.

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.

7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

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

8 I am become a stranger to my brethren, and an alien to the sons of my mother.

I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

9 For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up: and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

10 And I covered my soul in fasting: and it was made a reproach to me.

I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach.

11 And I made haircloth my garment: and I became a byword to them.

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

12 They that sat in the gate spoke against me: and they that drank wine made me their song.

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

13 But as for me, my prayer is to thee, O Lord; for the time of thy good pleasure, O God. In the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

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.

14 Draw me out of the mire, that I may not stick fast: deliver me from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters.

15 Let not the tempest of water drown me, nor the deep swallow me up: and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me.

16 Hear me, O Lord, for thy mercy is kind; look upon me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

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

17 And turn not away thy face from thy servant: for I am in trouble, hear me speedily.

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

18 Attend to my soul, and deliver it: save me because of my enemies.

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

19 Thou knowest my reproach, and my confusion, and my shame.

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

20 In thy sight are all they that afflict me; my heart hath expected reproach and misery. And I looked for one that would grieve together with me, but there was none: and for one that would comfort me, and I found none.

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.

21 And they gave me gall for my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

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

22 Let their table become as a snare before them, and a recompense, and a stumblingblock.

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

23 Let their eyes be darkened that they see not; and their back bend thou down always.

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

24 Pour out thy indignation upon them: and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

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

25 Let their habitation be made desolate: and let there be none to dwell in their tabernacles.

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

26 Because they have persecuted him whom thou hast smitten; and they have added to the grief of my wounds.

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

27 Add thou iniquity upon their iniquity: and let them not come into thy justice.

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

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

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

29 But I am poor and sorrowful: thy salvation, O God, hath set me up.

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

30 I will praise the name of God with a canticle: and I will magnify him with praise.

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

31 And it shall please God better than a young calf, that bringeth forth horns and hoofs.

And this will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.

32 Let the poor see and rejoice: seek ye God, and your soul shall live.

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

33 For the Lord hath heard the poor: and hath not despised his prisoners.

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

34 Let the heavens and the earth praise him; the sea, and every thing that creepeth therein.

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

35 For God will save Sion, and the cities of Juda shall be built up. And they shall dwell there, and acquire it by inheritance.

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

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

The descendants of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will settle in it.