Psalms 69

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

For the Chief Musician; set to Shoshannim. [A Psalm] of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in 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 sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow 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 with my crying; my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait 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.

They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would cut me off, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: 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, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid 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 that wait on thee be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of hosts: let not those that seek thee be brought to dishonour through me, 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 unto my brethren, and an alien unto 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 thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me.

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

When I wept, [and chastened] my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

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

When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a proverb unto them.

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

They that sit in the gate talk of me; and [I am] the song of the 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 as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy, answer 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.

Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered 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 waterflood overwhelm me, neither let 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,

Answer me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies turn thou unto me.

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

And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in distress; answer me speedily.

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

Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: ransom me because of mine 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 shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.

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.

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, 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 meat; 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 before them become a snare; and when they are in peace, [let it become] a trap.

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

Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

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

Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them.

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

Let their habitation be desolate; let none 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 him whom thou hast smitten; and they tell of the sorrow of those whom thou hast wounded,

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

Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy 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 life, and not be written with the righteous.

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

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

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 song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

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

And it shall please the LORD better than an ox, [or] a bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

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

The meek have seen it, and are glad: ye that seek after God, let your heart live.

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

For the LORD heareth the needy, and despiseth not his prisoners.

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

Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth 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 Zion, and build the cities of Judah; and they shall abide there, and have it in possession.

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

The seed also of his servants shall inherit it; and they that love his name shall dwell therein.