Psalms 69

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

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Lilies.” By David. Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!

2 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.

I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

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

I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail looking for my God.

4 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.

Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn’t take away.

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

God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren’t hidden from you.

6 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.

Don’t let those who wait for you be shamed through me, Lord GOD of Armies. Don’t let those who seek you be brought to dishonour through me, God of Israel.

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

Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.

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

I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s children.

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

For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

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

When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach.

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

When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

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

Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.

13 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.

But as for me, my prayer is to you, LORD, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.

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

Deliver me out of the mire, and don’t let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.

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

Don’t let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don’t let the pit shut its mouth on me.

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

Answer me, LORD, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.

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

Don’t hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily!

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

Draw near to my soul and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.

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

You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonour. My adversaries are all before you.

20 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.

Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.

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

They also gave me poison for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

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

Let their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap.

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

Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can’t see. Let their backs be continually bent.

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

Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.

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

Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents.

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

For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.

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

Charge them with crime upon crime. Don’t let them come into your righteousness.

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

Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.

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

But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.

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

I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

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

It will please the LORD better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.

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

The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.

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

For the LORD hears the needy, and doesn’t despise his captive people.

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

Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves therein!

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

For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.

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

The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell therein.