Psalm 69

To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David.

1Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.

2I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.footnote afootnote b

3I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

4They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

5O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.footnote c

6Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

7Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

8I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother’s children.

9For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

10When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

11I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

12They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.footnote d

13But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.

14Deliver 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.

15Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

16Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.

17And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.footnote e

18Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.

19Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.

20Reproach 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.footnote f

21They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

22Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.

23Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

24Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

25Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.footnote gfootnote h

26For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.footnote i

27Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.footnote j

28Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

29But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.

30I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

32The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.footnote k

33For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.

34Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.footnote l

35For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.

36The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.

The Waters Are up to My Neck

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.

1Save me, O God,for the waters are up to my neck. 2I have sunk into the miry depths,where there is no footing;I have drifted into deep waters,where the flood engulfs me. 3I am weary from my crying;my throat is parched.My eyes fail,looking for my God. 4Those who hate me without causeoutnumber the hairs of my head;many are those who would destroy me—my enemies for no reason.footnote aThough I did not steal,I must repay.

5You know my folly, O God,and my guilt is not hidden from You. 6May 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. 7For I have endured scorn for Your sake,and shame has covered my face. 8I have become a stranger to my brothersand a foreigner to my mother’s sons, 9because zeal for Your house has consumed me,footnote band the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.footnote c 10I wept and fasted,but it brought me reproach. 11I made sackcloth my clothing,and I was sport to them. 12Those who sit at the gate mock me,and I am the song of drunkards.

13But 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. 14Rescue me from the mireand do not let me sink;deliver me from my foesand out of the deep waters. 15Do not let the floods engulf meor the depths swallow me up;let not the Pit close its mouth over me. 16Answer me, O LORD,for Your loving devotion is good;turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion. 17Hide not Your face from Your servant,for I am in distress.Answer me quickly! 18Draw near to my soul and redeem me;ransom me because of my foes.

19You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace.All my adversaries are before You. 20Insults have broken my heart,and I am in despair.I looked for sympathy, but there was none,for comforters, but I found no one. 21They poisoned my food with galland gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

22May their table become a snare;may it be a retribution and a trap.footnote d 23May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,and their backs be bent forever.footnote e 24Pour out Your wrath upon them,and let Your burning anger overtake them. 25May their place be deserted;let there be no one to dwell in their tents.footnote f 26For they persecute the one You struckand recount the pain of those You wounded. 27Add iniquity to their iniquity;let them not share in Your righteousness. 28May they be blotted out of the Book of Lifeand not listed with the righteous.

29But I am in pain and distress;let Your salvation protect me, O God. 30I will praise God’s name in songand exalt Him with thanksgiving. 31And this will please the LORD more than an ox,more than a bull with horns and hooves. 32The humble will see and rejoice.You who seek God, let your hearts be revived! 33For the LORD listens to the needyand does not despise His captive people.

34Let heaven and earth praise Him,the seas and everything that moves in them. 35For God will save Zionand rebuild the cities of Judah,that they may dwell there and possess it. 36The descendants of His servants will inherit it,and those who love His name will settle in it.