Psalms 69
1 To the chief music-maker; put to Shoshannim. Of David. Be my saviour, O God; because the waters have come in, even to my neck.
For the leader. On shoshannim. Of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are threatening my life.
2 My feet are deep in the soft earth, where there is no support; I have come into deep waters, the waves are flowing over me.
I am sunk in depths of mire, where ground there is none. I am come into deep deep waters, the flood overwhelms me.
3 I am tired with my crying; my throat is burning: my eyes are wasted with waiting for my God.
I am weary of crying, my throat is parched, my eyes are wasted with waiting for God.
4 Those who have hate for me without cause are greater in number than the hairs of my head; those who are against me, falsely desiring my destruction, are very strong; I gave back what I had not taken away.
More than the hairs of my head are those who wantonly hate me. More than my bones in number are those who are falsely my foes. That which I never robbed, how am I then to restore?
5 O God, you see how foolish I am; and my wrongdoing is clear to you.
O God, you know my folly, my guilt is not hidden from you.
6 Let not those who have hope in you be put to shame because of me, O Lord God of armies: let not those who are waiting for you be made low because of me, O God of Israel.
Through me let not any be shamed, who wait for you, Lord God of hosts. Through me let not those be confounded who seek you, O God of Israel.
7 I have been wounded with sharp words because of you; my face has been covered with shame.
It’s in your cause that I have borne taunts, and my face has been covered with shame;
8 I have become strange to my brothers, and like a man from a far country to my mother's children.
I became to my kindred a foreigner, to my mother’s sons a stranger.
9 I am on fire with passion for your house; and the hard things which are said about you have come on me.
It was zeal for your house that consumed me, and the insults they hurled at you fell upon me.
10 My bitter weeping, and my going without food, were turned to my shame.
When I chastened myself with fasting, they took occasion to taunt me.
11 When I put on the clothing of grief, they said evil of me.
When I put on a garment of sackcloth, they made me the theme of a taunt-song.
12 I am a cause of wonder to those in authority; a song to those who are given to strong drink.
Those who sit in the gate make sport of me in the music of drunken songs.
13 But as for me, let my prayer be made to you, O Lord, at a time when you are pleased; O God, give me an answer in your great mercy, for your salvation is certain.
But I pray to you, Lord, for a time of favour. In your great love answer me; with your loyal help, save me
14 Take me from the grip of the sticky earth, so that I may not go down into it; let me be lifted up from the deep waters.
from sinking down in the mire. Lift me out of the deep deep waters,
15 Let me not be covered by the flowing waters; let not the deep waters go over my head, and let me not be shut up in the underworld.
that the rushing flood may not drown me, that the deep may not swallow me up, nor the pit close her mouth upon me.
16 Give an answer to my words, O Lord; for your mercy is good: be turned to me, because of your great pity.
Answer me, Lord, in your gracious kindness, turn to me in your great compassion.
17 Let not your face be covered from your servant, for I am in trouble; quickly give me an answer.
Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in trouble; O answer me speedily.
18 Come near to my soul, for its salvation: be my saviour, because of those who are against me.
Draw near to me, redeem me; because of my enemies, ransom me.
19 You have seen my shame, how I was laughed at and made low; my haters are all before you.
You know how I am insulted; in your sight are all my foes.
20 My heart is broken by bitter words, I am full of grief; I made a search for some to have pity on me, but there was no one; I had no comforter.
Insult has broken my heart, past cure are my shame and confusion. For pity I looked – there was none! And for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me poison for my food; and bitter wine for my drink.
Poison they gave me for food, and to slake my thirst they gave vinegar.
22 Let their table before them be for their destruction; let their feasts become a net to take them.
May their table, outspread, be a trap to them, and their peace-offerings be a snare.
23 Let their eyes be blind so that they may not see; let their bodies for ever be shaking.
May their eyes be darkened and blind, make them shake without ceasing.
24 Let your curse come on them; let the heat of your wrath overtake them.
Pour your indignation upon them, let your burning wrath overtake them.
25 Give their houses to destruction, and let there be no one in their tents.
May their camp be a desolation, in their tents be there none to live.
26 Because they are cruel to him against whom your hand is turned; they make bitter the grief of him who is wounded by you.
For those whom you struck, they persecute, and those whom you wounded, they pain yet more.
27 Let their punishment be increased; let them not come into your righteousness.
Charge them with sin upon sin, may they not be acquitted by you.
28 Let their names be taken from the book of the living, let them not be numbered with the upright.
From the book of life be they blotted, may their names not be written with the righteous.
29 But I am poor and full of sorrow; let me be lifted up by your salvation, O Lord.
Lift me, O God, by your help above my pain and misery.
30 I will give praise to the name of God with a song; I will give glory to him for what he has done.
Then will I praise God in song and magnify him with thanksgiving,
31 This will be more pleasing to the Lord than an ox, or a young ox of full growth.
which shall please the Lord better than ox, or than bullock with horns and hoofs.
32 The poor will see it and be glad: you who are lovers of God, let your hearts have life.
The oppressed shall rejoice at the sight. You who seek after God, let your heart revive.
33 For the ears of the Lord are open to the poor, and he takes thought for his prisoners.
For the Lord listens to the poor, he does not despise his prisoners.
34 Let the heavens and the earth give praise to him, the seas, and everything moving in them.
Let the heavens and the earth sing his praises, the seas, and all creatures that move in them.
35 For God will be the saviour of Zion, and the builder of the towns of Judah; so that it may be their resting-place and heritage.
For God will bring help to Zion, and build up the cities of Judah, his people shall live there in possession.
36 The seed of his servants will have their part in it, and there the lovers of his name will have rest.
His servants’ children shall have it for heritage, and those who love him shall live therein.
