Psalms 69

1Rescue me, God, for the water has risen to my throat. 2I am sinking in deep mud with nothing to stand on; I have gone down into deep water, and the current is carrying me away. 3I am exhausted from calling out; my throat is burning dry. My eyes have grown dim from watching for my God. 4There are more people hating me for no reason than hairs on my head; strong are the ones who seek my ruin, my enemies with their lies. Am I to repay what I never took? 5God, you know my foolishness; none of my guilt is hidden from you. 6May no one who waits for you be shamed through me, Lord GOD of Armies; may no one who seeks you be humiliated through me, God of Israel. 7Because of you I have carried scorn; humiliation covers my face. 8My own brothers treat me as a stranger; to my mother’s sons I am an outsider. 9Passion for your house burns me up, and the taunts aimed at you have landed on me. 10I wept and went without food, and for that they mocked me. 11When I put on sackcloth for clothing, they made me the butt of their sayings. 12The people who sit at the city gate gossip about me, and drunkards sing songs mocking me. 13But as for me, I pray to you, LORD, at a time you will accept; God, in your great loyal love, answer me with your faithful rescue. 14Pull me out of the mud, and do not let me go under; let me be snatched away from those who hate me, out of the deep water. 15Do not let the flood waters wash over me or the deep gulp me down, or the pit shut its mouth on me. 16Answer me, LORD, because your loyal love is good; in your great compassion, turn toward me. 17Do not turn away from me, your servant; I am hard pressed, so be quick to answer me. 18Come close to me and buy me back; set me free because of my enemies. 19You know the scorn I bear, my shame and my disgrace; every one of my enemies is in your sight. 20Scorn has broken my heart, leaving me sick; I hoped someone would pity me, but no one did, that someone would comfort me, but there was no one to be found. 21They put bitter poison into my food, and for my thirst they handed me sour wine. 22May the meal set before them become a trap for them, a snare when they feel secure. 23May their eyes grow dim until they cannot see; make their bodies tremble without end. 24Pour your fury out on them; let your blazing anger catch up with them. 25Let their camp become a wasteland, with nobody living in their tents. 26For they chase down the one you have struck, and gossip about the pain of the people you have wounded. 27Add guilt to their guilt; let them have no share in your saving justice. 28May their names be erased from the book of life, never to be entered with the righteous. 29But I am poor and hurting; let your saving help, God, lift me up to safety. 30With a song I will praise God’s name and proclaim his greatness with thanksgiving. 31That will delight the LORD more than an ox or a young bull with full-grown horns and hooves. 32The humble will see it and be glad; you who seek God, take heart and live! 33For the LORD hears the poor and does not look down on his people in chains. 34Let the heavens and the earth praise him, the seas and all that swarms in them. 35For God will rescue Zion and build up Judah’s towns again; his people will live there and hold it as their own, 36the descendants of his servants will receive it as their inheritance, and all who love his name will make their home in it.