Psalms 69

1 [For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Lilies." By David.] Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck.

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 sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow 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 am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking 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 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 did not take away.

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 God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren't hidden from you.

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

6 Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame because of me, Jehovah of hosts. Do not let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, 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 Because for your sake I suffer insults. Shame has covered my face.

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

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, a foreigner to my mother's children.

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

9 For the zeal of your house consumes me. The insults of those who insult you 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 When I wept and I fasted, it brought me insults.

I wept and I fasted, but they mocked me;

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

I mourned in sackcloth, but they laughed at me.

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

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

13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, Jehovah, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving 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 out of the mire, and do not let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep 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 the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Do not let the pit shut its 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, Jehovah, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.

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

17 Do not hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily.

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

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

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

19 You know how I am insulted, and my shame, and my disgrace. My adversaries are all before you.

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

20 Insults have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I 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 They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

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

22 Let their table before them become a snare, and a retribution, and a trap, and a stumbling block.

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

23 Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can't see, and make their backs weak continually.

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

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

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

25 Let their habitation be desolate, and let no one dwell in their tents.

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

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

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

27 Charge them with crime upon crime. Do not let them come into your righteousness.

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

28 Let them be blotted out of the Book of Life, and not be 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 But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.

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

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will 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 It will please Jehovah better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.

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

32 The humble will see it and rejoice. You who seek after God, let your heart live.

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

33 For Jehovah hears the needy, and doesn't despise his captive people.

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

34 Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves in them.

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

35 For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.

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

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

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