Psalms 69 · Clearspring

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

The Waters Are up to My Neck

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 cause outnumber 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 brothers and 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 mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters.+ ¹⁵Do not let the floods engulf me or 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 gall and 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 struck and 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 Life and 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 song and 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 needy and does not despise His captive people.+ ³⁴Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.+ ³⁵For God will save Zion and 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.+

The Waters Are up to My Neck

Study Psalm 69