Psalms 69:1-21

1Save me, O God, For the waters have threatened my life [they have come up to my neck].

2I have sunk in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, where a flood overwhelms me.

3I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait [with confident expectation] for my God.

4Those who hate me without cause are more than the hairs of my head; Those who would destroy me are powerful, being my enemies wrongfully; I am forced to restore what I did not steal.

5O God, You know my folly; My wrongs are not hidden from You.

6Do not let those who wait [confidently] for You be ashamed through me, O Lord God of hosts; Do not let those who seek You [as necessary for life itself] be dishonored through me, O God of Israel,

7Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Confusion and dishonor have covered my face.

8I have become estranged from my brothers And an alien to my mother’s sons.

9For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the [mocking] insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

10When I wept and humbled myself with fasting, It became my reproach.

11When I made sackcloth my clothing [as one in mourning], I became a byword [a mere object of scorn] to them.

12They who sit in the [city’s] gate talk about me and mock me, And I am the song of the drunkards.

13But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable and opportune time; O God, in the greatness of Your favor and in the abundance of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with truth [that is, the faithfulness of Your salvation].

14Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; Let me be rescued from those who hate me and from the deep waters.

15Do not let the floodwater overwhelm me, Nor the deep waters swallow me up, Nor the pit [of Sheol] shut its mouth over me.

16Answer me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is sweet and good and comforting; According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me.

17Do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in distress; answer me quickly.

18Draw near to my soul and redeem it; Ransom me because of my enemies [so that they do not delight in my distress].

19You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor [how I am insulted]; My adversaries are all before You [each one fully known].

20Reproach and insults have broken my heart and I am so sick. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, And for comforters, but I found none.

21They (self-righteous hypocrites) also gave me gall [poisonous and bitter] for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.