Psalms 69:1-36
Psalms 69:1-36 New Living Translation (NLT)
Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me. I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me. Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal. O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you. Don’t let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me, O Sovereign LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel. For I endure insults for your sake; humiliation is written all over my face. Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a stranger. Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. When I weep and fast, they scoff at me. When I dress in burlap to show sorrow, they make fun of me. I am the favorite topic of town gossip, and all the drunks sing about me. But I keep praying to you, LORD, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mud; don’t let me sink any deeper! Save me from those who hate me, and pull me from these deep waters. Don’t let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me, or the pit of death devour me. Answer my prayers, O LORD, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful. Don’t hide from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble! Come and redeem me; free me from my enemies. You know of my shame, scorn, and disgrace. You see all that my enemies are doing. Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me. But instead, they give me poison for food; they offer me sour wine for my thirst. Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare and their prosperity become a trap. Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and make their bodies shake continually. Pour out your fury on them; consume them with your burning anger. Let their homes become desolate and their tents be deserted. To the one you have punished, they add insult to injury; they add to the pain of those you have hurt. Pile their sins up high, and don’t let them go free. Erase their names from the Book of Life; don’t let them be counted among the righteous. I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power. Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. For this will please the LORD more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves. The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged. For the LORD hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people. Praise him, O heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them. For God will save Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will live there and settle in their own land. The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land, and those who love him will live there in safety.
Psalms 69:1-36 The Message (MSG)
God, God, save me! I’m in over my head, Quicksand under me, swamp water over me; I’m going down for the third time. I’m hoarse from calling for help, Bleary-eyed from searching the sky for God. I’ve got more enemies than hairs on my head; Liars and cheats are out to knife me in the back. What I never stole Must I now give back? God, you know every sin I’ve committed; My life’s a wide-open book before you. Don’t let those who look to you in hope Be discouraged by what happens to me, Dear Lord! GOD of the armies! Don’t let those out looking for you Come to a dead end by following me— Please, dear God of Israel! Because of you I look like an idiot, I walk around ashamed to show my face. My brothers shun me like a bum off the street; My family treats me like an unwanted guest. I love you more than I can say. Because I’m madly in love with you, They blame me for everything they dislike about you. When I poured myself out in prayer and fasting, All it got me was more contempt. When I put on a sad face, They treated me like a clown. Now drunks and gluttons Make up drinking songs about me. And me? I pray. GOD, it’s time for a break! God, answer in love! Answer with your sure salvation! Rescue me from the swamp, Don’t let me go under for good, Pull me out of the clutch of the enemy; This whirlpool is sucking me down. Don’t let the swamp be my grave, the Black Hole Swallow me, its jaws clenched around me. Now answer me, GOD, because you love me; Let me see your great mercy full-face. Don’t look the other way; your servant can’t take it. I’m in trouble. Answer right now! Come close, God; get me out of here. Rescue me from this deathtrap. You know how they kick me around— Pin on me the donkey’s ears, the dunce’s cap. I’m broken by their taunts, Flat on my face, reduced to a nothing. I looked in vain for one friendly face. Not one. I couldn’t find one shoulder to cry on. They put poison in my soup, Vinegar in my drink. Let their supper be bait in a trap that snaps shut; May their best friends be trappers who’ll skin them alive. Make them become blind as bats, Give them the shakes from morning to night. Let them know what you think of them, Blast them with your red-hot anger. Burn down their houses, Leave them desolate with nobody at home. They gossiped about the one you disciplined, Made up stories about anyone wounded by God. Pile on the guilt, Don’t let them off the hook. Strike their names from the list of the living; No rock-carved honor for them among the righteous. I’m hurt and in pain; Give me space for healing, and mountain air. Let me shout God’s name with a praising song, Let me tell his greatness in a prayer of thanks. For GOD, this is better than oxen on the altar, Far better than blue-ribbon bulls. The poor in spirit see and are glad— Oh, you God-seekers, take heart! For GOD listens to the poor, He doesn’t walk out on the wretched. You heavens, praise him; praise him, earth; Also ocean and all things that swim in it. For God is out to help Zion, Rebuilding the wrecked towns of Judah. Guess who will live there— The proud owners of the land? No, the children of his servants will get it, The lovers of his name will live in it.
Psalms 69:1-36 King James Version (KJV)
Save me, O God; For the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: They that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: Then I restored that which I took not away. O God, thou knowest my foolishness; And my sins are not hid from thee. Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: Let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; Shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, And an alien unto my mother's children. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; And the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, That was to my reproach. I made sackcloth also my garment; And I became a proverb to them. They that sit in the gate speak against me; And I was the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer Is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy Hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, And let not the pit shut her mouth upon me. Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: Turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. And hide not thy face from thy servant; For I am in trouble: Hear me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: Deliver me because of mine enemies. Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: Mine adversaries are all before thee. Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table become a snare before them: And that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; And make their loins continually to shake. Pour out thine indignation upon them, And let thy wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their habitation be desolate; And let none dwell in their tents. For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; And they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded. Add iniquity unto their iniquity: And let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous. But I am poor and sorrowful: Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD Better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The humble shall see this, and be glad: And your heart shall live that seek God. For the LORD heareth the poor, And despiseth not his prisoners. Let the heaven and earth praise him, The seas, and every thing that moveth therein. For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: That they may dwell there, and have it in possession. The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: And they that love his name shall dwell therein.
Psalms 69:1-36 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Save me, O God, For the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait for my God. Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; Those who would destroy me are powerful, being wrongfully my enemies; What I did not steal, I then have to restore. O God, it is You who knows my folly, And my wrongs are not hidden from You. May those who wait for 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, Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Dishonor has covered my face. I have become estranged from my brothers And an alien to my mother’s sons. For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. When I wept in my soul with fasting, It became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. Those who sit in the gate talk about me, And I am the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with Your saving truth. Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink; May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters. May the flood of water not overflow me Nor the deep swallow me up, Nor the pit shut its mouth on me. Answer me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good; According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me, And do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in distress; answer me quickly. Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it; Ransom me because of my enemies! You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor; All my adversaries are before You. Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, And for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. May their table before them become a snare; And when they are in peace, may it become a trap. May their eyes grow dim so that they cannot see, And make their loins shake continually. Pour out Your indignation on them, And may Your burning anger overtake them. May their camp be desolate; May none dwell in their tents. For they have persecuted him whom You Yourself have smitten, And they tell of the pain of those whom You have wounded. Add iniquity to their iniquity, And may they not come into Your righteousness. May they be blotted out of the book of life And may they not be recorded with the righteous. But I am afflicted and in pain; May Your salvation, O God, set me securely on high. I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving. And it will please the LORD better than an ox Or a young bull with horns and hoofs. The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God, let your heart revive. For the LORD hears the needy And does not despise His who are prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, That they may dwell there and possess it. The descendants of His servants will inherit it, And those who love His name will dwell in it.
Psalms 69:1-36 New Century Version (NCV)
God, save me, because the water has risen to my neck. I’m sinking down into the mud, and there is nothing to stand on. I am in deep water, and the flood covers me. I am tired from calling for help; my throat is sore. My eyes are tired from waiting for God to help me. 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. God, you know what I have done wrong; I cannot hide my guilt from you. 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. For you, I carry this shame, and my face is covered with disgrace. I am like a stranger to my closest relatives and a foreigner to my mother’s children. My strong love for your Temple completely controls me. When people insult you, it hurts me. When I cry and fast, they make fun of me. When I wear clothes of sadness, they joke about me. They make fun of me in public places, and the drunkards make up songs about me. But I pray to you, LORD, for favor. God, because of your great love, answer me. You are truly able to save. Pull me from the mud, and do not let me sink. Save me from those who hate me and from the deep water. Do not let the flood drown me or the deep water swallow me or the grave close its mouth over me. LORD, answer me because your love is so good. Because of your great kindness, turn to me. Do not hide from me, your servant. I am in trouble. Hurry to help me! Come near and save me; rescue me from my enemies. You see my shame and disgrace. You know all my enemies and what they have said. Insults have broken my heart and left me weak. I looked for sympathy, but there was none; I found no one to comfort me. They put poison in my food and gave me vinegar to drink. Let their own feasts cause their ruin; let their feasts trap them and pay them back. Let their eyes be closed so they cannot see and their backs be forever weak from troubles. Pour your anger out on them; let your anger catch up with them. May their place be empty; leave no one to live in their tents. They chase after those you have hurt, and they talk about the pain of those you have wounded. Charge them with crime after crime, and do not let them have anything good. Wipe their names from the book of life, and do not list them with those who do what is right. I am sad and hurting. God, save me and protect me. I will praise God in a song and will honor him by giving thanks. That will please the LORD more than offering him cattle, more than sacrificing a bull with horns and hoofs. Poor people will see this and be glad. Be encouraged, you who worship God. The LORD listens to those in need and does not look down on captives. Heaven and earth should praise him, the seas and everything in them. God will save Jerusalem and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will live there and own the land. The descendants of his servants will inherit that land, and those who love him will live there.
Psalms 69:1-36 American Standard Version (ASV)
Save me, O God; For the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is dried: Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: They that would cut me off, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: That which I took not away I have to restore. O God, thou knowest my foolishness; And my sins are not hid from thee. Let not them that wait for thee be put to shame through me, O Lord Jehovah of hosts: Let not those that seek thee be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; Shame hath covered my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, And an alien unto my mother’s children. For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up; And the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me. When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, That was to my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword unto them. They that sit in the gate talk of me; And I am the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Jehovah, in an acceptable time: O God, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness, Answer me in the truth of thy salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Let not the waterflood overwhelm me, Neither let the deep swallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth upon me. Answer me, O Jehovah; for thy lovingkindness is good: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies turn thou unto me. And hide not thy face from thy servant; For I am in distress; answer me speedily. Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: Ransom me because of mine enemies. Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor: Mine adversaries are all before thee. Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my food; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table before them become a snare; And when they are in peace, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see; And make their loins continually to shake. Pour out thine indignation upon them, And let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them. Let their habitation be desolate; Let none dwell in their tents. For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; And they tell of the sorrow of those whom thou hast wounded. Add iniquity unto their iniquity; And let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous. But I am poor and sorrowful: Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving. And it will please Jehovah better than an ox, Or a bullock that hath horns and hoofs. The meek have seen it, and are glad: Ye that seek after God, let your heart live. For Jehovah heareth the needy, And despiseth not his prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, The seas, and everything that moveth therein. For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah; And they shall abide there, and have it in possession. The seed also of his servants shall inherit it; And they that love his name shall dwell therein.
Psalms 69:1-36 New International Version (NIV)
Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those 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. You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you. Lord, 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. For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face. I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn; when I put on sackcloth, people make sport of me. Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards. But I pray to you, LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; deliver me because of my foes. You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst. May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever. Pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them. May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents. For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt. Charge them with crime upon crime; do not let them share in your salvation. May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. But as for me, afflicted and in pain— may your salvation, God, protect me. I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves. The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live! The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.
Psalms 69:1-36 New King James Version (NKJV)
Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, Where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, Where the floods overflow me. I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God. Those who hate me without a cause Are more than the hairs of my head; They are mighty who would destroy me, Being my enemies wrongfully; Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it. O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You. Let not those who wait for You, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed because of me; Let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel. Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, And an alien to my mother’s children; Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, That became my reproach. I also made sackcloth my garment; I became a byword to them. Those who sit in the gate speak against me, And I am the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, in the acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, Hear me in the truth of Your salvation. Deliver me out of the mire, And let me not sink; Let me be delivered from those who hate me, And out of the deep waters. Let not the floodwater overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth on me. Hear me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good; Turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. And do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in trouble; Hear me speedily. Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; Deliver me because of my enemies. You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor; My adversaries are all before You. Reproach has broken my heart, And I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table become a snare before them, And their well-being a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; And make their loins shake continually. Pour out Your indignation upon them, And let Your wrathful anger take hold of them. Let their dwelling place be desolate; Let no one live in their tents. For they persecute the ones You have struck, And talk of the grief of those You have wounded. Add iniquity to their iniquity, And let them not come into Your righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous. But I am poor and sorrowful; Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high. I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, Which has horns and hooves. The humble shall see this and be glad; And you who seek God, your hearts shall live. For the LORD hears the poor, And does not despise His prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion And build the cities of Judah, That they may dwell there and possess it. Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, And those who love His name shall dwell in it.
Psalms 69:1-36 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Save me, O God, For the waters have threatened my life [they have come up to my neck]. I have sunk in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, where a flood overwhelms me. I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait [with confident expectation] for my God. Those who hate me without cause are more than the hairs of my head; Those who would destroy me are powerful, being my enemies wrongfully; I am forced to restore what I did not steal. [John 15:25] ¶O God, You know my folly; My wrongs are not hidden from You. Do not let those who wait [confidently] for You be ashamed through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; Do not let those who seek You [as necessary for life itself] be dishonored through me, O God of Israel, Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Confusion and dishonor have covered my face. I have become estranged from my brothers And an alien to my mother’s sons. [John 7:3-5] For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the [mocking] insults of those who insult You have fallen on me. [John 2:17; Rom 15:3] When I wept and humbled myself with fasting, It became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing [as one in mourning], I became a byword [a mere object of scorn] to them. They who sit in the [city’s] gate talk about me and mock me, And I am the song of the drunkards. ¶But as for me, my prayer is to You, O LORD, at an acceptable and opportune time; O God, in the greatness of Your favor and in the abundance of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with truth [that is, the faithfulness of Your salvation]. Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; Let me be rescued from those who hate me and from the deep waters. Do not let the floodwater overwhelm me, Nor the deep waters swallow me up, Nor the pit [of Sheol] shut its mouth over me. ¶Answer me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is sweet and good and comforting; According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me. Do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in distress; answer me quickly. Draw near to my soul and redeem it; Ransom me because of my enemies [so that they do not delight in my distress]. You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor [how I am insulted]; My adversaries are all before You [each one fully known]. ¶Reproach and insults have broken my heart and I am so sick. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, And for comforters, but I found none. They (self-righteous hypocrites) also gave me gall [poisonous and bitter] for my food, And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. [Matt 27:34, 48] ¶May their table [with all its abundance and luxury] become a snare [to them]; And when they are in peace [secure at their sacrificial feasts], may it become a trap. May their eyes be dimmed so that they cannot see, And make their loins shake continually [in terror and weakness]. Pour out Your indignation on them, And let [the fierceness of] Your burning anger overtake them. May their encampment be desolate; May no one dwell in their tents. [Matt 23:38; Acts 1:20] For they have persecuted him whom You have struck, And they tell of the pain of those whom You have pierced and wounded. Add [unforgiven] iniquity to their iniquity [in Your book], And may they not come into Your righteousness. May they be blotted out of the book of life [and their lives come to an end] And may they not be recorded with the righteous (those in right standing with God). [Rev 3:4, 5; 20:12, 15; 21:27] ¶But I am sorrowful and in pain; May Your salvation, O God, set me [securely] on high. I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving. And it will please the LORD better than an ox Or a young bull with horns and hoofs. The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God [requiring Him as your greatest need], let your heart revive and live. [Ps 22:26; 42:1] For the LORD hears the needy And does not despise His who are prisoners. ¶Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, That His servants may remain there and possess it. The descendants of His servants will inherit it, And those who love His name will dwell in it.
Psalms 69:1-36 The Passion Translation (TPT)
God, my God, come and save me! These floods of trouble have risen higher and higher. The water is up to my neck! I’m sinking into the mud with no place to stand, and I’m about to drown in this storm. I’m weary, exhausted with weeping. My throat is dry, my voice is gone, my eyes are swollen with sorrow, and I’m waiting for you, God, to come through for me. I can’t even count all those who hate me for no reason. Many influential men want me silenced, yet I’ve done nothing against them. Must I restore what I never took away? God, my life is an open book to you. You know every sin I’ve ever done. For nothing within me is hidden from your sight! Lord YAHWEH of Angel Armies, keep me from ever being a stumbling block to others, to those who love you. Lord God of Israel, don’t let what happens to me be the source of confusion to those who are passionate for you. Because of my love for you, Lord, I have been mocked, cursed, and disgraced. Even my own brothers, those of my family, act as though they don’t want anything to do with me. My love for you has my heart on fire! My passion for your house consumes me! Nothing will turn me away, even though I endure all the insults of those who insult you. When they see me seeking for more of you with weeping and fasting, they all just scoff and scorn at my passion. When I humble myself with sorrow over my sin, it gives them a reason to mock me even more. The leaders, the influential ones—how they scorn my passion for you! I’ve become the talk of the town, the theme of drunkards’ songs. But I keep calling out to you, YAHWEH! I know you will bend down to listen to me, for now is the season of favor. Because of your faithful love for me, your answer to my prayer will be my sure salvation. Pull me out of this mess! Don’t let me sink! Rescue me from those who hate me and from all this trouble I’m in! Don’t let this flood drown me. Save me from these deep waters or I’ll go down to the pit of destruction. Oh, Lord God, answer my prayers! I need to see your tender kindness, your grace, your compassion, and your constant love. Just let me see your face, and turn your heart toward me. Come running quickly to your servant. In this deep distress, come and answer my prayer. Come closer as a friend and redeem me. Set me free so my enemies cannot say that you are powerless. See how they dishonor me in shame and disgrace? You know, Lord, what I’m going through, and you see it all. I’m heartsick and heartbroken by it all. Their contempt has crushed my soul. I looked for sympathy and compassion but found only empty stares. I was hungry and they gave me bitter food. I was thirsty and they offered me vinegar. Let their “feasts” turn to ashes. Let their “peace and security” become their downfall. Make them blind as bats, groping in the dark. Let them be feeble, trembling continually. Pour out your fury on them all! Consume them with the fire of your anger! Burn down the walled palace where they live! Leave them homeless and desolate! For they come against the one you yourself have struck, and they scorn the pain of those you’ve pierced. Pile on them the guilt of their sins. Don’t let them ever go free. Leave them out of your list of the living! Blot them out of your Book of Life! Never name them as your own! I am burdened and broken by this pain. When your miracle rescue comes to me, it will lift me to the highest place. Then my song will be a burst of praise to you. My glory-shouts will make your fame even more glorious to all who hear my praises! For I know, YAHWEH, that my praises mean more to you than all my gifts and sacrifices. All who seek you will see God do this for them, and they’ll overflow with gladness. Let this revive your hearts, all you lovers of God! For YAHWEH does listen to the poor and needy and will not abandon his prisoners of love. Let all the universe praise him! The high heavens and everyone on earth, praise him! Let the oceans deep, with everything in them, keep it up! God will come to save his Zion-people. God will build up his cities of Judah, for there his people will live in peace. All their children will inherit the land, and the lovers of his name will live there safe and secure.
Psalms 69:1-36 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore? O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons. For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me. But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. Hide not your face from your servant, for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies! You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you. Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink. Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually. Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them. May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents. For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded. Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous. But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.