Psalms 69

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

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are 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 hath overflown me.

I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.

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

I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. 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 took not away — I bring back.

Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me— my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.

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

You know my folly, O God, and my guilt is not hidden from You.

6 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.

May those who hope in You not be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of Hosts; may those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel.

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

For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face.

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

I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

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

because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult 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 fasted, but it brought me reproach.

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

I made sackcloth my clothing, and I was sport to them.

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

Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of drunkards.

13 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.

But my prayer to You, O LORD, is for a time of favor. In Your abundant loving devotion, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation.

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

Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters.

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

Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me.

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

Answer me, O LORD, for Your loving devotion is good; turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.

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

Hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!

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

Draw near to my soul and redeem me; ransom me because of my foes.

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

You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You.

20 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.

Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found no one.

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

They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

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

May their table become a snare; may it be a retribution and a trap.

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

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.

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

Pour out Your wrath upon them, and let Your burning anger overtake them.

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

May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.

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

For they persecute the one You struck and recount the pain of those You wounded.

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

Add iniquity to their iniquity; let them not share in Your righteousness.

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

May they be blotted out of the Book of Life and not listed with the righteous.

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

But I am in pain and distress; let Your salvation protect me, O God.

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

I will praise God’s name in song and exalt Him with thanksgiving.

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

And this will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.

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

The humble will see and rejoice. You who seek God, let your hearts be revived!

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

For the LORD listens to the needy and does not despise His captive people.

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

Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.

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

For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.

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

The descendants of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will settle in it.