Psalms 69

1 TO THE OVERSEER. [SET] ON “LILIES.” BY DAVID. Save me, O God, for waters have come to the soul.

For the music director. To the tune “Lilies.” A psalm of David. God, please save me, because the water is up to my neck!

2 I have sunk in deep mire, And there is no standing, I have come into the depths of the waters, And a flood has overflown me.

I'm sinking deeper into the mud—there's no solid ground for me to stand. I find myself in deep water; floods wash over me.

3 I have been wearied with my calling, My throat has been burned, My eyes have been consumed, waiting for my God.

I'm so tired of screaming out for help my throat is totally raw. My eyes are worn out looking for my God to help me.

4 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 did not take away—I bring back.

Those who hate me for no reason are more than the number of hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me by telling lies. How can I give back what I didn't steal?

5 O God, You have known Concerning my overturn, And my desolations have not been hid from You.

God, you know how foolish I am! My sins are not hidden from you.

6 Do not let those waiting on You be ashamed because of me, O Lord, YHWH of Hosts, Do not let those seeking You Blush because of me, O God of Israel.

Don't let those who trust you be ashamed because of me, Lord God Almighty. Don't let those who follow you be disgraced because of me, God of Israel.

7 For because of You I have borne reproach, Shame has covered my face.

For your sake I put up with the insults; my face shows my embarrassment.

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

I have become a foreigner to my brother Israelites; a stranger to my very own brothers.

9 For [my] zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the reproaches of Your reproachers Have fallen on me.

My devotion for your house is burning me up inside; the insults of those who insulted you have fallen on me.

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

I wept and I fasted, but they mocked me;

11 And I make my clothing sackcloth, And I am for an allegory to them.

I mourned in sackcloth, but they laughed at me.

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

People sitting by the town gate gossip about me. I'm the subject of rude songs sung by drunks.

13 And my prayer [is] to You, O YHWH, A time of good pleasure, O God, In the abundance of Your kindness, Answer me in the truth of Your salvation.

But my prayer is to you, Lord, believing this is a good time to respond to me. God, in your wonderful trustworthy love, answer me with your sure salvation.

14 Deliver me from the mire, and do not let me sink, Let me be delivered from those hating me, And from deep places of waters.

Please rescue me from the mud—don't let me sink! Save me from those who hate me and from drowning in the deep waters!

15 Do not let a flood of waters overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up, Nor let the pit shut her mouth on me.

Don't let the flood waters wash over me. Don't let the deep waters pull me down. Don't let the grave close over me.

16 Answer me, O YHWH, for Your kindness [is] good, Turn to me according to the abundance of Your mercies,

Please answer my prayers, Lord, for you are good and love me with your trustworthy love; because of your kindness, please help me.

17 And do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in distress—hurry, answer me.

Don't turn away from me, your servant. Please answer me quickly because I'm in trouble.

18 Be near to my soul—redeem it, Ransom me because of my enemies.

Come here and rescue me; set me free from my enemies.

19 You have known my reproach, And my shame, and my blushing, All my adversaries [are] before You.

You—you know my shame, my disgrace, my humiliation. You see everything my enemies are doing.

20 Reproach has 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.

Insults have broken my heart—I am so sick there is no cure. I looked for some sympathy, but there was no one! Nobody showed me any compassion.

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

Instead they gave me bitter herbs to eat and vinegar to drink.

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

May the table set before them become a trap for them, a net that catches them, bringing punishment.

23 Their eyes are darkened from seeing, And their loins continually shake You.

May their eyes become blind so they cannot see, and may their backs always be bent low in dejection.

24 Pour Your indignation on them, And the fierceness of Your anger seizes them.

Pour out your judgment on them; chase them down in your fierce anger.

25 Their tower is desolated, There is no dweller in their tents.

Let the places where they live be deserted. Let their homes be abandoned.

26 For they have pursued him [whom] You have struck, And recount of the pain of Your pierced ones.

For they persecute those you have punished, and make it even more painful for those you have disciplined.

27 Give punishment for their iniquity, And they do not enter into Your righteousness.

Punish them for the evil they have done. Don't acquit them.

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

Blot out their names from the Book of Life. Don't let them be listed with those who do right.

29 And I [am] afflicted and pained, Your salvation, O God, sets me on high.

But I am suffering and in physical pain. God, please save me and keep me safe.

30 I praise the Name of God with a song, And I magnify Him with thanksgiving,

I will praise God's character in song; I will say how incredible he is and how thankful I am.

31 And it is better to YHWH than an ox, A bullock—horned [and] hoofed.

The Lord is happier with this than with offering animals as sacrifices: cattle, or bulls with horns and hooves.

32 The humble have seen—they rejoice, You who seek God—and your heart lives.

The humble will see this and be happy. May God encourage everyone who comes to him.

33 For YHWH listens to the needy, And He has not despised His bound ones.

God hears the poor, and he does not ignore his people who are in prison.

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

Praise him heaven and earth, the seas and everything that lives in them!

35 For God saves Zion, And builds the cities of Judah, And they have dwelt there, and possess it.

For God will save Zion, and rebuild the cities of Judah. They will live there and own the land.

36 And the seed of His servants inherit it, And those loving His Name dwell in it!

The descendants of those who follow him will inherit the land, and those who love him will live there.