Psalms 69
Psalm 69
A Plea for Rescue
For the choir director: according to “The Lilies.” Of David.
1Save me, God, for the water has risen to my neck.23I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing; I have come into deep water, and a flood sweeps over me.4
5I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.6
7Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head; my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me, are powerful. Though I did not steal, I must repay.8
9God, you know my foolishness, and my guilty acts are not hidden from you.10
11Do not let those who put their hope in you be disgraced because of me, Lord God of Armies; do not let those who seek you be humiliated because of me, God of Israel.12
13For I have endured insults because of you, and shame has covered my face.14
15I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons16
17because zeal for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.18
19I mourned and fasted, but it brought me insults.20
21I wore sackcloth as my clothing, and I was a joke to them.22
23Those who sit at the city gate talk about me, and drunkards make up songs about me.24
25But as for me, Lord, my prayer to you is for a time of favor. In your abundant, faithful love, God, answer me with your sure salvation.26
27Rescue me from the miry mud; don’t let me sink. Let me be rescued from those who hate me and from the deep water.28
29Don’t let the floodwaters sweep over me or the deep swallow me up; don’t let the Pit close its mouth over me.30
31Answer me, Lord, for your faithful love is good. In keeping with your abundant compassion, turn to me.32
33Don’t hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!34
35Come near to me and redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies.36
37You know the insults I endure — my shame and disgrace. You are aware of all my adversaries.38
39Insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. I waited for sympathy, but there was none; for comforters, but found no one.40
41Instead, they gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.42
43Let their table set before them be a snare, and let it be a trap for their allies.44
45Let their eyes grow too dim to see, and let their hips continually quake.46
47Pour out your rage on them, and let your burning anger overtake them.48
49Make their fortification desolate; may no one live in their tents.50
51For they persecute the one you struck and talk about the pain of those you wounded.52
53Charge them with crime on top of crime; do not let them share in your righteousness.54
55Let them be erased from the book of life and not be recorded with the righteous.56
57But as for me — poor and in pain — let your salvation protect me, God.58
59I will praise God’s name with song and exalt him with thanksgiving.60
61That will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.62
63The humble will see it and rejoice. You who seek God, take heart!64
65For the Lord listens to the needy and does not despise his own who are prisoners.66
67Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them,68
69for God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah. They will live there and possess it.70
71The descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will live in it.72