Psalms 69

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

For the end, [a Psalm] of David, for alternate [strains]. Save me, O God; for the waters have come in to my soul.

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 am stuck fast in deep mire, and there is no standing: I am come in to the depths of the sea, and a storm has overwhelmed 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 [of] crying, my throat has become hoarse; mine eyes have failed by my waiting on 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.

They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: my enemies that persecute me unrighteously are strengthened: then I restored that which I took not away.

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

O God, you know my foolishness; and my transgressions are 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.

Let not them that wait on you, O Lord of hosts, be ashamed on my account: let not them that seek you, be ashamed on my account, O God of Israel.

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

For I have suffered reproach for your sake; shame has covered my face.

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

I became strange to my brethren, and a stranger to my mother's children.

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

For the zeal of your house has eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached you are fallen upon me.

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

And I bowed down my soul with fasting, and that was made my reproach.

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

And I put on sackcloth for my covering; and I became a proverb to them.

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

They that sit in the gate talked against me, and they that drank wine sang against me.

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 I [will cry] to you, O Lord, in my prayer; O God, it is a propitious time: in the multitude of your mercy hear me, in the truth of your 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.

Save me from the mire, that I stick not [in it]: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and from 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.

Let not the waterflood drown me, nor let the deep swallow me up; neither let the well shut its mouth upon me.

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

Hear me, O Lord; for your mercy is good: according to the multitude of your compassions look upon me.

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

And turn not away your face from your servant; for I am afflicted: hear me speedily.

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

Draw near to my soul and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.

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

For you know my reproach, and my shame, and my confusion; all that afflict me 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.

My soul has waited for reproach and misery; and I waited for one to grieve with me, but there was none; and for one to comfort me, but I found none.

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

They gave [me] also gall for my food, and made me drink vinegar for my thirst.

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

Let their table before them be for a snare, and for a recompense, and for a stumbling block.

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

Let their eyes be darkened that they should not see; and bow down their back continually.

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

Pour out your wrath upon them, and let the fury of your anger take hold on them.

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

Let their habitation be made desolate; and let there be no inhabitant in their tents:

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

Because they persecuted him whom you have struck; and they have added to the grief of my wounds.

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

Add iniquity to their iniquity; and let them not come into your righteousness.

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

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

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

I am poor and sorrowful; but the salvation of your countenance has helped me.

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

I will praise the name of my God with a song, I will magnify him with praise;

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

and [this] shall please God more than a young calf having horns and hoofs.

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

Let the poor see and rejoice; seek the Lord diligently, and you shall live.

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

For the Lord hears the poor, and does not set at nothing his fettered ones.

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

Let the heavens and the earth raise him, the sea, and all things moving 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 Sion, and the cities of Judea shall be built; and [men] shall dwell there, and inherit it.

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

And the seed of his servants shall possess it, and they that love his name shall dwell therein.