Psalms 69

The waters have come up to my neck

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.a ²I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.b ³I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

⁴Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs of my head; many are those who would destroy me— my enemies for no reason. Though I did not steal, I must repay.c 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.d ⁸I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,e ⁹because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.f

¹⁰I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach.g 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.h ¹⁴Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters.i ¹⁵Do not let the floods engulf me or 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.j 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.k ²¹They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.l

²²May their table become a snare; may it be a retribution and a trap. ²³May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.m 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.n ²⁶For they persecute the one You struck and recount the pain of those You wounded.o ²⁷Add iniquity to their iniquity; let them not share in Your righteousness.

²⁸May they be blotted out of the Book of Life and 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 song and exalt Him with thanksgiving.p

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!q ³³For the LORD listens to the needy and does not despise His captive people.r

³⁴Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.s ³⁵For God will save Zion and 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.