A Cry for Help

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” A psalm of David.

69 God, save me,

because the water has risen to my neck.

2  I’m sinking down into the mud,

and there is nothing to stand on.

I am in deep water,

and the flood covers me.

3  I am tired from calling for help;

my throat is sore.

My eyes are tired from waiting

for God to help me.

4  There 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.

5  God, you know what I have done wrong;

I cannot hide my guilt from you.

6  Lord 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.

7  For you, I carry this shame,

and my face is covered with disgrace.

8  I am like a stranger to my closest relatives

and a foreigner to my mother’s children.

9  My strong love for your Temple completely controls me.

When people insult you, it hurts me.

10  When I cry and fast,

they make fun of me.

11  When I wear clothes of sadness,

they joke about me.

12  They make fun of me in public places,

and the drunkards make up songs about me.

13  But I pray to you, Lord, for favor.

God, because of your great love, answer me.

You are truly able to save.

14  Pull me from the mud,

and do not let me sink.

Save me from those who hate me

and from the deep water.

15  Do not let the flood drown me

or the deep water swallow me

or the grave close its mouth over me.

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

Because of your great kindness, turn to me.

17  Do not hide from me, your servant.

I am in trouble. Hurry to help me!

18  Come near and save me;

rescue me from my enemies.

19  You see my shame and disgrace.

You know all my enemies and what they have said.

20  Insults have broken my heart

and left me weak.

I looked for sympathy, but there was none;

I found no one to comfort me.

21  They put poison in my food

and gave me vinegar to drink.

22  Let their own feasts cause their ruin;

let their feasts trap them and pay them back.

23  Let their eyes be closed so they cannot see

and their backs be forever weak from troubles.

24  Pour your anger out on them;

let your anger catch up with them.

25  May their place be empty;

leave no one to live in their tents.

26  They chase after those you have hurt,

and they talk about the pain of those you have wounded.

27  Charge them with crime after crime,

and do not let them have anything good.

28  Wipe their names from the book of life,

and do not list them with those who do what is right.

29  I am sad and hurting.

God, save me and protect me.

30  I will praise God in a song

and will honor him by giving thanks.

31  That will please the Lord more than offering him cattle,

more than sacrificing a bull with horns and hoofs.

32  Poor people will see this and be glad.

Be encouraged, you who worship God.

33  The Lord listens to those in need

and does not look down on captives.

34  Heaven and earth should praise him,

the seas and everything in them.

35  God will save Jerusalem

and rebuild the cities of Judah.

Then people will live there and own the land.

36  The descendants of his servants will inherit that land,

and those who love him will live there.