Psalms

For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Lilies.” By David.

1Save me, God,for the waters have come up to my neck!

2I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold.I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

3I am weary with my crying.My throat is dry. My eyes fail looking for my God.

4Those 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.

5God, you know my foolishness.My sins aren’t hidden from you.

6Don’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 dishonor through me, God of Israel.

7Because for your sake, I have borne reproach.Shame has covered my face.

8I have become a stranger to my brothers,an alien to my mother’s children.

9For the zeal of your house consumes me.The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

10When I wept and I fasted,that was to my reproach.

11When I made sackcloth my clothing,I became a byword to them.

12Those who sit in the gate talk about me.I am the song of the drunkards.

13But 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.

14Deliver 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.

15Don’t let the flood waters overwhelm me,neither let the deep swallow me up. Don’t let the pit shut its mouth on me.

16Answer me, LORD, for your loving kindness is good.According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.

17Don’t hide your face from your servant,for I am in distress. Answer me speedily!

18Draw near to my soul and redeem it.Ransom me because of my enemies.

19You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor.My adversaries are all before you.

20Reproach 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.

21They also gave me poison for my food.In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

22Let their table before them become a snare.May it become a retribution and a trap.

23Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can’t see.Let their backs be continually bent.

24Pour out your indignation on them.Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.

25Let their habitation be desolate.Let no one dwell in their tents.

26For they persecute him whom you have wounded.They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.

27Charge them with crime upon crime.Don’t let them come into your righteousness.

28Let them be blotted out of the book of life,and not be written with the righteous.

29But I am in pain and distress.Let your salvation, God, protect me.

30I will praise the name of God with a song,and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31It will please the LORD better than an ox,or a bull that has horns and hoofs.

32The humble have seen it, and are glad.You who seek after God, let your heart live.

33For the LORD hears the needy,and doesn’t despise his captive people.

34Let heaven and earth praise him;the seas, and everything that moves therein!

35For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah.They shall settle there, and own it.

36The children also of his servants shall inherit it.Those who love his name shall dwell therein.

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.

1Save me, O God,for the waters are up to my neck.

2I have sunk into the miry depths,where there is no footing;I have drifted into deep waters,where the flood engulfs me.

3I am weary from my crying;my throat is parched.My eyes fail,looking for my God.

4Those who hate me without causeoutnumber 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.

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.

8I have become a stranger to my brothersand a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

9because zeal for Your house has consumed me,and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

10I wept and fasted,but it brought me reproach.

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.

14Rescue me from the mireand do not let me sink;deliver me from my foesand out of the deep waters.

15Do not let the floods engulf meor 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.

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.

21They poisoned my food with galland gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

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.

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.

26For they persecute the one You struckand recount the pain of those You wounded.

27Add iniquity to their iniquity;let them not share in Your righteousness.

28May they be blotted out of the Book of Lifeand 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 songand exalt Him with thanksgiving.

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!

33For the LORD listens to the needyand does not despise His captive people.

34Let heaven and earth praise Him,the seas and everything that moves in them.

35For God will save Zionand 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.