Psalm 69:1–21

God, save me,

because the water has risen to my neck.

²I’m sinking down into the mud,

and there is nothing to stand on.

I am in deep water,

and the flood covers me.

³I am tired from calling for help;

my throat is sore.

My eyes are tired from waiting

for God to help me.

⁴There are more people who hate me for no reason than hairs on my head;

powerful enemies want to destroy me for no reason.

They make me pay back

what I did not steal.

⁵God, you know what I have done wrong;

I cannot hide my guilt from you.

⁶Lord God All-Powerful,

do not let those who hope in you be ashamed because of me.

God of Israel,

do not let your worshipers be disgraced because of me.

⁷For you, I carry this shame,

and my face is covered with disgrace.

⁸I am like a stranger to my closest relatives

and a foreigner to my mother’s children.

⁹My strong love for your Temple completely controls me.

When people insult you, it hurts me.

¹⁰When I cry and fast,

they make fun of me.

¹¹When I wear clothes of sadness,

they joke about me.

¹²They make fun of me in public places,

and the drunkards make up songs about me.

¹³But I pray to you, Lord, for favor.

God, because of your great love, answer me.

You are truly able to save.

¹⁴Pull me from the mud,

and do not let me sink.

Save me from those who hate me

and from the deep water.

¹⁵Do not let the flood drown me

or the deep water swallow me

or the grave close its mouth over me.

¹⁶Lord, answer me because your love is so good.

Because of your great kindness, turn to me.

¹⁷Do not hide from me, your servant.

I am in trouble. Hurry to help me!

¹⁸Come near and save me;

rescue me from my enemies.

¹⁹You see my shame and disgrace.

You know all my enemies and what they have said.

²⁰Insults have broken my heart

and left me weak.

I looked for sympathy, but there was none;

I found no one to comfort me.

²¹They put poison in my food

and gave me vinegar to drink.