Psalms 69

1 “To the chief musician upon Shoshannim, by David.” Save me, O God; for the waters are come even to threaten my life.

2 I am sunk in the mire of the deep, where there is no standing; I am come into the depths of the waters, and the flood overfloweth me.

3 I am weary of my calling; my throat is hoarse; my eyes fail, while I hope for my God.

4 More than the hairs of my head are those that hate me without a cause; numerous are those that would destroy me, that are my enemies wrongfully: what I have not robbed shall I now restore.

5 O God, thou art well aware of my folly, and my guilty deeds are from thee not hidden.

6 Let not those that wait on thee, O Lord Eternal of hosts, be made ashamed through me: let not those that seek thee be confounded through me, O God of Israel.

7 Because for thy sake have I borne reproach, hath confusion covered my face.

8 A stranger am I become unto my brothers, and an alien unto my mother's children.

9 Because the zeal for thy house hath devoured me; and the reproaches of those that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

10 When I wept at the fasting of my soul, it became a reproach to me.

11 And when I made sackcloth my garment, I became a proverb to them.

12 Those that sit in the gate talk against me; and [about me make] songs the drinkers of strong drink.

13 But as for me, I direct my prayer unto thee, O Lord, in a time of favor; O God, in the multitude of thy kindness: answer me in the truth of thy salvation.

14 Deliver me out of the mire, that I may not sink: let me be delivered from those that hate me, and out of the depths of the waters.

15 Let not the flood of waters overflow me, and let not the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit close its mouth upon me.

16 Answer me, O Lord; for thy kindness is good: according to the multitude of thy mercies turn thou unto me.

17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in distress: make haste and answer me.

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

19 Thou well knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my confusion: before thee are all my assailants.

20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am sick; and I waited for pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

21 And they put into my food gall; and in my thirst they give me vinegar to drink.

22 May [then] their table become a snare before them: and to those that are at peace, a trap.

23 May their eyes become dark, that they cannot see; and make their loins continually to waver.

24 Pour out over them thy indignation, and let the heat of thy anger overtake them.

25 May their palace become desolate: in their tents let no one dwell.

26 For whom thou hast smitten they persecute; and of the pain of those whom thou but wounded do they converse.

27 Lay guilt upon their guilt; and let them not come into thy righteousness.

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

29 But I am poor and suffering: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.

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

31 And this will please the Lord better than an ox or bullock having horns and cloven hoofs.

32 The meek will see this, and be rejoiced: ye that seek God, and your heart shall revive.

33 For the Lord listeneth unto the needy, and his prisoners he despiseth not.

34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.

35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may abide there, and have it in possession:

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