Psalms 69

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

Unto the end, for them that shall be changed; for David. SAVE me, O God: for the waters are come in even unto 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 stick fast in the mire of the deep: and there is no sure standing. I am come into the depth of the sea: and a tempest hath 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 have laboured with crying; my jaws are become hoarse: my eyes have failed, whilst I hope in 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 are multiplied above the hairs of my head, who hate me without cause. My enemies are grown strong who have wrongfully persecuted me: then did I pay 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, thou knowest my foolishness; and my offences are not hidden from thee:

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 be ashamed for me, who look for thee, O Lord, the Lord of hosts. Let them not be confounded on my account, who seek thee, O God of Israel.

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

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

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

I am become a stranger to my brethren, and an alien to the sons of my mother.

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

For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up: and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

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

And I covered my soul in fasting: and it was made a reproach to me.

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

And I made haircloth my garment: and I became a byword to them.

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

They that sat in the gate spoke against me: and they that drank wine made me their song.

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 as for me, my prayer is to thee, O Lord; for the time of thy good pleasure, O God. In the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy 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.

Draw me out of the mire, that I may not stick fast: deliver me from them that hate me, 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.

Let not the tempest of water drown me, nor the deep swallow me up: and let not the pit shut her 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 thy mercy is kind; look upon me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

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

And turn not away thy face from thy servant: for I am in trouble, hear me speedily.

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

Attend to my soul, and deliver it: save me because of my enemies.

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

Thou knowest my reproach, and my confusion, and my shame.

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.

In thy sight are all they that afflict me; my heart hath expected reproach and misery. And I looked for one that would grieve together with me, but there was none: and for one that would comfort me, and I found none.

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

And they gave me gall for my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

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

Let their table become as a snare before them, and a recompense, and a stumblingblock.

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

Let their eyes be darkened that they see not; and their back bend thou down always.

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

Pour out thy indignation upon them: and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

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

Let their habitation be made desolate: and let there be none to dwell in their tabernacles.

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

Because they have persecuted him whom thou hast smitten; and they have added to the grief of my wounds.

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

Add thou iniquity upon their iniquity: and let them not come into thy justice.

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 with the just let them not be written.

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

But I am poor and sorrowful: thy salvation, O God, hath set me up.

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

I will praise the name of God with a canticle: and I will magnify him with praise.

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

And it shall please God better than a young calf, that bringeth forth 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 ye God, and your soul shall live.

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

For the Lord hath heard the poor: and hath not despised his prisoners.

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

Let the heavens and the earth praise him; the sea, and every thing that creepeth therein.

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 Juda shall be built up. And they shall dwell there, and acquire it by inheritance.

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.