Psalms 69

1 For the leader. On shoshannim. Of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are threatening my life.

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

2 I am sunk in depths of mire, where ground there is none. I am come into deep deep waters, the flood overwhelms me.

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.

3 I am weary of crying, my throat is parched, my eyes are wasted with waiting for God.

I have been wearied with my calling, Burnt hath been my throat, Consumed have been mine eyes, waiting for my God.

4 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?

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.

5 O God, you know my folly, my guilt is not hidden from you.

O God, Thou — Thou hast known Concerning my overturn, And my desolations from Thee have not been hid.

6 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.

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.

7 It’s in your cause that I have borne taunts, and my face has been covered with shame;

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

8 I became to my kindred a foreigner, to my mother’s sons a stranger.

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

9 It was zeal for your house that consumed me, and the insults they hurled at you fell upon me.

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

10 When I chastened myself with fasting, they took occasion to taunt me.

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

11 When I put on a garment of sackcloth, they made me the theme of a taunt-song.

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

12 Those who sit in the gate make sport of me in the music of drunken songs.

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

13 But I pray to you, Lord, for a time of favour. In your great love answer me; with your loyal help, save me

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.

14 from sinking down in the mire. Lift me out of the deep deep waters,

Deliver me from the mire, and let me not sink, Let me be delivered from those hating me, And from deep places of waters.

15 that the rushing flood may not drown me, that the deep may not swallow me up, nor the pit close her mouth upon me.

Let not a flood of waters overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up, Nor let the pit shut her mouth upon me.

16 Answer me, Lord, in your gracious kindness, turn to me in your great compassion.

Answer me, O Jehovah, for good [is] Thy kindness, According to the abundance Of Thy mercies turn Thou unto me,

17 Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in trouble; O answer me speedily.

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

18 Draw near to me, redeem me; because of my enemies, ransom me.

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

19 You know how I am insulted; in your sight are all my foes.

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

20 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.

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.

21 Poison they gave me for food, and to slake my thirst they gave vinegar.

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

22 May their table, outspread, be a trap to them, and their peace-offerings be a snare.

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

23 May their eyes be darkened and blind, make them shake without ceasing.

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

24 Pour your indignation upon them, let your burning wrath overtake them.

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

25 May their camp be a desolation, in their tents be there none to live.

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

26 For those whom you struck, they persecute, and those whom you wounded, they pain yet more.

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

27 Charge them with sin upon sin, may they not be acquitted by you.

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

28 From the book of life be they blotted, may their names not be written with the righteous.

They are blotted out of the book of life, And with the righteous are not written.

29 Lift me, O God, by your help above my pain and misery.

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

30 Then will I praise God in song and magnify him with thanksgiving,

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

31 which shall please the Lord better than ox, or than bullock with horns and hoofs.

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

32 The oppressed shall rejoice at the sight. You who seek after God, let your heart revive.

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

33 For the Lord listens to the poor, he does not despise his prisoners.

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

34 Let the heavens and the earth sing his praises, the seas, and all creatures that move in them.

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

35 For God will bring help to Zion, and build up the cities of Judah, his people shall live there in possession.

For God doth save Zion, And doth build the cities of Judah, And they have dwelt there, and possess it.

36 His servants’ children shall have it for heritage, and those who love him shall live therein.

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