Psalms 69

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

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Lilies.” By David. Save me, God, for the waters have come 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 sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

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

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

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 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 didn’t take away.

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

God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren’t 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 wait for you be shamed through me, Lord GOD of Armies. Don’t let those who seek you be brought to dishonour through me, God of Israel.

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

Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.

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

I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s children.

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

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

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

When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach.

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

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

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

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

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 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 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.

Deliver me out of the mire, and don’t let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of 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 overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don’t let the pit shut its mouth on me.

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

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

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

Don’t hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily!

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

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

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

You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonour. My adversaries are all before you.

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.

Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.

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

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

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

Let their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap.

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

Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can’t see. Let their backs be continually bent.

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

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

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

Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents.

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

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

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

Charge them with crime upon crime. Don’t let them come into your righteousness.

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

Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.

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

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

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

Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves therein!

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 build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.

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

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