Psalms 69

1 “For the leader of the music. Upon the Shoshannim. A psalm of David.” Save me, O God! For the waters press in to my very life!

To the Overseer. — 'On the Lilies,' by David. Save me, O God, for come have waters unto the soul.

2 I sink in deep mire, where is no standing; I have come into deep waters, and the waves flow over me.

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

3 I am weary with crying; my throat is parched; Mine eyes are wasted, while I wait for my God.

I have been wearied with my calling, Burnt hath been my throat, Consumed have been mine eyes, waiting for my God.

4 More numerous than the hairs of my head are they who hate me without reason; Mighty are they who seek to destroy me, being my enemies without cause: I must restore what I took not away.

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 took not away — I bring back.

5 O God! thou knowest my offences, And my sins are not hidden from thee!

O God, Thou — Thou hast known Concerning my overturn, And my desolations from Thee have not been hid.

6 Let not them that trust in thee through me be put to shame, O Lord Jehovah, God of hosts! Let not them that seek thee through me be confounded, O God of Israel!

Let not those waiting on Thee be ashamed because of me, O Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, Let not those seeking Thee Blush because of me, O God of Israel.

7 For on account of thee do I suffer reproach, And shame covereth my face!

For because of Thee I have borne reproach, Shame hath covered my face.

8 I am become a stranger to my brothers; Yea, an alien to my mother's sons.

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

9 For zeal for thy house consumeth me, And the reproaches of them that reproach thee fall upon me.

For zeal for Thy house hath consumed me, And the reproaches of Thy reproachers Have fallen upon me.

10 When I weep and fast, That is made my reproach;

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

11 When I clothe myself in sackcloth, Then I become their by-word.

And I make my clothing sackcloth, And I am to them for a simile.

12 They who sit in the gate speak against me, And I am become the song of drunkards.

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

13 Yet will I address my prayer to thee, O LORD! May it be in an acceptable time according to thy great goodness! Hear, O God! and afford me thy sure help!

And I — my prayer [is] to Thee, O Jehovah, A time of good pleasure, O God, In the abundance of Thy kindness, Answer me in the truth of Thy salvation.

14 Save me from the mire, and let me not sink; May I be delivered from my enemies, —from the deep waters!

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

15 Let not the water-flood overflow me; Let not the deep swallow me up, And let not the pit close her mouth upon me!

Let not a flood of waters overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up, Nor let the pit shut her mouth upon me.

16 Hear me, O LORD! since great is thy loving-kindness; According to the abundance of thy tender mercies look upon me!

Answer me, O Jehovah, for good [is] Thy kindness, According to the abundance Of Thy mercies turn Thou unto me,

17 Hide not thy face from thy servant; I am greatly distressed, O make haste to mine aid!

And hide not Thy face from Thy servant, For I am in distress — haste, answer me.

18 Draw near to me, and redeem my life; Deliver me because of my enemies!

Be near unto my soul — redeem it, Because of mine enemies ransom me.

19 Thou knowest my reproach, and dishonor, and shame; All my adversaries are in thy view!

Thou — Thou hast known my reproach, And my shame, and my blushing, Before Thee [are] all mine adversaries.

20 Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I look for pity, but there is none; For comforters, but find none.

Reproach hath 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.

21 For my food they give me gall, And in my thirst they give me vinegar to drink.

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

22 May their table be to them a snare; May it be a trap to them, while they are at ease!

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

23 May their eyes be darkened, that they may not see; And cause their loins continually to shake!

Darkened are their eyes from seeing, And their loins continually shake Thou.

24 Pour out upon them thine indignation, And may the heat of thine anger overtake them!

Pour upon them Thine indignation, And the fierceness of Thine anger doth seize them.

25 Let their habitation be desolate, And let none dwell in their tents!

Their tower is desolated, In their tents there is no dweller.

26 For they persecute those whom thou hast smitten, And talk of the pain of those whom thou hast wounded.

For they have pursued him Thou hast smitten, And recount of the pain of Thy pierced ones.

27 Add iniquity to their iniquity, And let them never come into thy favor!

Give punishment for their iniquity, And they enter not into Thy righteousness.

28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; Let not their names be written with the righteous!

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

29 But I am poor, and sorrowful: May thine aid, O God! set me on high!

And I [am] afflicted and pained, Thy salvation, O God, doth set me on high.

30 Then I will praise the name of God in a song; I will give glory to him with thanksgiving.

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

31 More pleasing shall this be to the LORD Than a full-horned and full-hoofed bullock.

And it is better to Jehovah than an ox, A bullock — horned — hoofed.

32 The afflicted shall see, and rejoice; The hearts of them that fear God shall be revived.

The humble have seen — they rejoice, Ye who seek God — and your heart liveth.

33 For the LORD heareth the poor, And despiseth not his people in their bonds.

For Jehovah hearkeneth unto the needy, And His bound ones He hath not despised.

34 Let the heaven and the earth praise him; The sea, and all that move therein!

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

35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah, That they may dwell therein, and possess it.

For God doth save Zion, And doth build the cities of Judah, And they have dwelt there, and possess it.

36 Yea, the posterity of his servants shall possess it, And they that love him shall dwell therein.

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