Psalms 69

1 O God, save me, because [I am in great danger]. [It is as though] flood water is up to my neck, [and I am about to drown] [MET].

To the chief music-maker; put to Shoshannim. Of David. Be my saviour, O God; because the waters have come in, even to my neck.

2 I continue to sink in the deep mud, and there is no solid ground for me to stand on. I am in deep water, and flood waters are swirling around me.

My feet are deep in the soft earth, where there is no support; I have come into deep waters, the waves are flowing over me.

3 I am exhausted from calling out [for help]; my throat is very dry. Because I have cried so much as I have waited for God [to help me], my eyes are swollen.

I am tired with my crying; my throat is burning: my eyes are wasted with waiting for my God.

4 Those who hate me when there is no reason to hate me are more than the number of hairs on my head [HYP]! Those who want to get rid of me are strong, and they tell lies about me. They demand that I return to them things that I did not steal!

Those who have hate for me without cause are greater in number than the hairs of my head; those who are against me, falsely desiring my destruction, are very strong; I gave back what I had not taken away.

5 O God, (you see the sins that I have committed/my sins are not hidden from you). You know that I have foolishly [disobeyed your laws].

O God, you see how foolish I am; and my wrongdoing is clear to you.

6 O Yahweh God, [you who are the commander] of the armies [of heaven], do not allow the [wrong things that] I [have done] to cause those who trust in you to be disappointed/disillusioned. O God, you whom [we] Israeli people [worship], do not allow me to cause your people to be humiliated.

Let not those who have hope in you be put to shame because of me, O Lord God of armies: let not those who are waiting for you be made low because of me, O God of Israel.

7 People have insulted/ridiculed me because [I am devoted to] you. They have thoroughly humiliated [IDM] me.

I have been wounded with sharp words because of you; my face has been covered with shame.

8 Even my own [older] brothers act as if they do not know me; they treat me like a foreigner.

I have become strange to my brothers, and like a man from a far country to my mother's children.

9 [Some people have despised your temple]; but my zeal for [keeping] your temple [holy] is like a fire burning inside me. So [it is as though] those who are insulting you are also insulting me.

I am on fire with passion for your house; and the hard things which are said about you have come on me.

10 When I have humbled myself and (fasted/abstained from eating food) [to show my sadness about the disgraceful things that they have done to your temple], they just insult me.

My bitter weeping, and my going without food, were turned to my shame.

11 When I put on [rough] sackcloth [to show that I am sad], they laugh at [IDM] me.

When I put on the clothing of grief, they said evil of me.

12 Even the elders [of the city] say bad things about me. The drunkards of the city sing [disgusting] songs about me.

I am a cause of wonder to those in authority; a song to those who are given to strong drink.

13 But Yahweh, I will [continue] praying to you. At the time that you choose, answer me and rescue me because you faithfully love me.

But as for me, let my prayer be made to you, O Lord, at a time when you are pleased; O God, give me an answer in your great mercy, for your salvation is certain.

14 Do not allow me to sink any more in the mud. Rescue me from those who hate me! Lift me up out of these deep waters!

Take me from the grip of the sticky earth, so that I may not go down into it; let me be lifted up from the deep waters.

15 Do not allow flood waters to swirl around me, do not allow the deep [mud] to swallow me; keep me from sinking into the pit [of death] [MET].

Let me not be covered by the flowing waters; let not the deep waters go over my head, and let me not be shut up in the underworld.

16 O Yahweh, answer my prayer and help me because you are good and love me faithfully.

Give an answer to my words, O Lord; for your mercy is good: be turned to me, because of your great pity.

17 Do not (hide yourself from/refuse to hear) me; answer me quickly because I am in great trouble.

Let not your face be covered from your servant, for I am in trouble; quickly give me an answer.

18 Come near to me and save me; rescue me from my enemies.

Come near to my soul, for its salvation: be my saviour, because of those who are against me.

19 You know that I am insulted and that [people cause] me [to feel] ashamed and dishonored; you know [who] all my enemies [are].

You have seen my shame, how I was laughed at and made low; my haters are all before you.

20 [Their] insults have deeply offended me, and I (feel helpless/am in despair). I searched for [someone who would] pity [me], but there was no one. I wanted someone to encourage/comfort me, but there were none.

My heart is broken by bitter words, I am full of grief; I made a search for some to have pity on me, but there was no one; I had no comforter.

21 [Instead], they gave me food [that tasted like] poison, and when I was thirsty, they gave me sour wine to drink.

They gave me poison for my food; and bitter wine for my drink.

22 I hope/desire that the feasts [MTY] [that they enjoy] will (become a snare for/bring trouble to) them, and that [those whom they invite to] the sacrificial feasts will also be trapped.

Let their table before them be for their destruction; let their feasts become a net to take them.

23 I hope/desire that their eyesight will become dim so that they cannot see anything, and that their backs/bodies will become weaker and weaker.

Let their eyes be blind so that they may not see; let their bodies for ever be shaking.

24 Show them that you are very angry with them! Because of your great/furious anger, chase after them and catch them.

Let your curse come on them; let the heat of your wrath overtake them.

25 Cause their towns to become abandoned/deserted and that there will be no one left to live in their tents/houses.

Give their houses to destruction, and let there be no one in their tents.

26 [Do this] because they persecute those whom you have punished, (they talk about the sins of/they want to hurt even more) those whom you have wounded.

Because they are cruel to him against whom your hand is turned; they make bitter the grief of him who is wounded by you.

27 Keep making a record of all their sins, do not acquit/pardon them [for the evil things that they have done].

Let their punishment be increased; let them not come into your righteousness.

28 Erase their names [SYN] from the book [containing the names of those who have eternal] life; do not include them in the list of righteous people.

Let their names be taken from the book of the living, let them not be numbered with the upright.

29 As for me, I have pain and am suffering. O God, protect me and rescue me.

But I am poor and full of sorrow; let me be lifted up by your salvation, O Lord.

30 When God does that, I will sing as I praise God, and I will honor him by thanking him.

I will give praise to the name of God with a song; I will give glory to him for what he has done.

31 My doing that will please Yahweh more than [sacrificing] oxen, more than offering him full-grown bulls.

This will be more pleasing to the Lord than an ox, or a young ox of full growth.

32 Oppressed/Afflicted people will see [that God has rescued me], and they will be glad. I want all of you who ask God [to help you] to be encouraged.

The poor will see it and be glad: you who are lovers of God, let your hearts have life.

33 Yahweh listens to those who are needy; He does not ignore/forget those who are oppressed/imprisoned.

For the ears of the Lord are open to the poor, and he takes thought for his prisoners.

34 I desire that everything will praise God— everything that is in heaven and on earth, and all the creatures that are in the seas.

Let the heavens and the earth give praise to him, the seas, and everything moving in them.

35 God will rescue the people of Jerusalem [from their enemies], and he will rebuild the towns that are in Judah. His people will live there and [again] possess the land.

For God will be the saviour of Zion, and the builder of the towns of Judah; so that it may be their resting-place and heritage.

36 The descendants of his people will inherit it, and those who love him will live there [safely].

The seed of his servants will have their part in it, and there the lovers of his name will have rest.