Psalms Chapter 69

                                                For the Choir Director. A Psalm of David

Set to Lilies

¹ Save me, God;

      I’m in water up to my neck!

² I’ve sunk in deep mud, where there’s no foothold;

      a flood is sweeping over me.

³ I’m worn out from crying; my throat’s dry;

      my eyes are red from crying, waiting for my God.

⁴ The people that hate me for no reason

            outnumber the hairs on my head;

      those who want to destroy me are powerful;

         they’re trying to make me repay what I didn’t steal.

Ps 69:1-4

⁵ God, you know about my foolish choices;

         I can’t hide the things I’ve done wrong.

⁶ May those who put their hope in you

                  not be disgraced because of me;

      may the ones who look to you

            not be dishonored by what I’ve done;

         ⁷because I’ve endured humiliation for your sake;

                  I have shame written all over my face.

⁸ I’m alienated from my brothers;

      my mother’s sons treat me like a foreigner.

⁹ I’m consumed with zeal for your Temple;

      the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.

¹⁰ When I humble myself with fasting, they mock me;

         ¹¹when I wear burlap, they make my name a byword.

         ¹²Those who sit in the city gate talk about me;

            drunks make up songs about me.                               

Ps 69:5-12

¹³ But, I pray to you, LORD;

      at an acceptable time, in your great enduring love,

      answer me with your sure salvation.

¹⁴ Save me from sinking in the mud;

         deliver me from my enemies and from deep water.

¹⁵ May the flood not overwhelm me

      or the deep drown me

      or the Pit close over me.                                                  

Ps 69:13-15

¹⁶ Answer me, LORD, because your enduring love is good;

      turn to me according to your great mercy.

¹⁷ Don’t abandon me,

      because I’m in distress; answer me quickly.

¹⁸ Come close to my soul and redeem it; 

      ransom me from my enemies.

¹⁹ You know my disgrace, shame, and dishonor;

      all my adversaries stand in your presence.

Ps 69:16-19

²⁰ Insults have broken my heart; I’m heartsick.

      I looked for sympathy, but there wasn’t any,

      and for comforters, but I couldn’t find any.

²¹ Instead, they gave me gall to eat and vinegar to drink.

²² May their table become a snare

         and their peace a trap.

²³ May their eyes go blind

      and their loins tremble feebly.

²⁴ Pour out indignation on them;

      overwhelm them with furious anger.

²⁵ Make their camp desolate

      and their tents deserted.

²⁶ They persecute the one you yourself have struck;

      they strike even more the ones you’ve already wounded.

²⁷ Pile their sins high;

      don’t let them experience your goodness.

²⁸ Erase them from the Book of Life;

      don’t enroll them with the godly.                                    

Ps 69:20-28

²⁹ I’m miserable with pain;

      save me, God; set me safely up high.

³⁰ I’ll praise God with song

      and magnify him with thanksgiving.

³¹ That will please the LORD more

      than a young bull with horns and hoofs.

³² The humble will see it and be happy;

      you that look to God for help will revive your hearts.

³³ The LORD listens to the needy;

      he doesn’t look down on his imprisoned people.            

Ps 69:29-33

³⁴ Let earth and sky praise him,

      the seas and everything that’s in them.

³⁵ God will save Zion and rebuild the towns in Judah

         so the people can settle there and own it.

³⁶ The descendants of his servants will inherit it;

      those who love him will live there.                                 

Ps 69:34-36