Psalms 69
1 To the Overseer. — 'On the Lilies,' by David. Save me, O God, for come have waters unto the soul.
For the music director. To the tune “Lilies.” A psalm of David. God, please save me, because the water is 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'm sinking deeper into the mud—there's no solid ground for me to stand. I find myself in deep water; floods wash over me.
3 I have been wearied with my calling, Burnt hath been my throat, Consumed have been mine eyes, waiting for my God.
I'm so tired of screaming out for help my throat is totally raw. My eyes are worn out looking for my God to help me.
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 for no reason are more than the number of hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me by telling lies. How can I give back what I didn't steal?
5 O God, Thou — Thou hast known Concerning my overturn, And my desolations from Thee have not been hid.
God, you know how foolish I am! My sins 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.
Don't let those who trust you be ashamed because of me, Lord God Almighty. Don't let those who follow you be disgraced because of me, God of Israel.
7 For because of Thee I have borne reproach, Shame hath covered my face.
For your sake I put up with the insults; my face shows my embarrassment.
8 A stranger I have been to my brother, And a foreigner to sons of my mother.
I have become a foreigner to my brother Israelites; a stranger to my very own brothers.
9 For zeal for Thy house hath consumed me, And the reproaches of Thy reproachers Have fallen upon me.
My devotion for your house is burning me up inside; the insults of those who insulted 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 I fasted, but they mocked me;
11 And I make my clothing sackcloth, And I am to them for a simile.
I mourned in sackcloth, but they laughed at me.
12 Those sitting at the gate meditate concerning me, And those drinking strong drink, Play on instruments.
People sitting by the town gate gossip about me. I'm the subject of rude songs sung by drunks.
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 is to you, Lord, believing this is a good time to respond to me. God, in your wonderful trustworthy love, 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.
Please rescue me from the mud—don't let me sink! Save me from those who hate me and from drowning in 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.
Don't let the flood waters wash over me. Don't let the deep waters pull me down. Don't let the grave close over me.
16 Answer me, O Jehovah, for good [is] Thy kindness, According to the abundance Of Thy mercies turn Thou unto me,
Please answer my prayers, Lord, for you are good and love me with your trustworthy love; because of your kindness, please help me.
17 And hide not Thy face from Thy servant, For I am in distress — haste, answer me.
Don't turn away from me, your servant. Please answer me quickly because I'm in trouble.
18 Be near unto my soul — redeem it, Because of mine enemies ransom me.
Come here and rescue me; set me free from my enemies.
19 Thou — Thou hast known my reproach, And my shame, and my blushing, Before Thee [are] all mine adversaries.
You—you know my shame, my disgrace, my humiliation. You see everything my enemies are doing.
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—I am so sick there is no cure. I looked for some sympathy, but there was no one! Nobody showed me any compassion.
21 And they give for my food gall, And for my thirst cause me to drink vinegar.
Instead they gave me bitter herbs to eat and vinegar to drink.
22 Their table before them is for a snare, And for a recompence — for a trap.
May the table set before them become a trap for them, a net that catches them, bringing punishment.
23 Darkened are their eyes from seeing, And their loins continually shake Thou.
May their eyes become blind so they cannot see, and may their backs always be bent low in dejection.
24 Pour upon them Thine indignation, And the fierceness of Thine anger doth seize them.
Pour out your judgment on them; chase them down in your fierce anger.
25 Their tower is desolated, In their tents there is no dweller.
Let the places where they live be deserted. Let their homes be abandoned.
26 For they have pursued him Thou hast smitten, And recount of the pain of Thy pierced ones.
For they persecute those you have punished, and make it even more painful for those you have disciplined.
27 Give punishment for their iniquity, And they enter not into Thy righteousness.
Punish them for the evil they have done. Don't acquit them.
28 They are blotted out of the book of life, And with the righteous are not written.
Blot out their names from the Book of Life. Don't let them be listed with those who do right.
29 And I [am] afflicted and pained, Thy salvation, O God, doth set me on high.
But I am suffering and in physical pain. God, please save me and keep me safe.
30 I praise the name of God with a song, And I magnify Him with thanksgiving,
I will praise God's character in song; I will say how incredible he is and how thankful I am.
31 And it is better to Jehovah than an ox, A bullock — horned — hoofed.
The Lord is happier with this than with offering animals as sacrifices: cattle, or bulls with horns and hooves.
32 The humble have seen — they rejoice, Ye who seek God — and your heart liveth.
The humble will see this and be happy. May God encourage everyone who comes to him.
33 For Jehovah hearkeneth unto the needy, And His bound ones He hath not despised.
God hears the poor, and he does not ignore his people who are in prison.
34 The heavens and earth do praise Him, Seas, and every moving thing in them.
Praise him heaven and earth, the seas and everything that lives 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. They will live there and own the land.
36 And the seed of His servants inherit it, And those loving His name dwell in it!
The descendants of those who follow him will inherit the land, and those who love him will live there.
