Psalms 69:1-21

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

2I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.

3I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

4Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal.

5You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you.

6Lord, the Lord Almighty, may those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me; God of Israel, may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me.

7For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face.

8I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children;

9for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.

10When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn;

11when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me.

12Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards.

13But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.

14Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters.

15Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me.

16Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.

17Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.

18Come near and rescue me; deliver me because of my foes.

19You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.

20Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.

21They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.