Psalms, chapter 69

God Can Be Trusted

Save me, God! I am about to drown.

²I am sinking deep in the mud, and my feet are slipping.

I am about to be swept under by a mighty floodH.

³I am worn out from crying, and my throat is dry.

I have waited for you till my eyes are blurred.

⁴There are more people who hate me for no reasonI

than there are hairs on my head.

Many terrible enemies want to destroy me, God.

Am I supposed to give back something I didn't stealP?

⁵You know my foolish sins. Not one is hidden from you.

⁶ Lord God All-PowerfulI, ruler of Israel,

don't let me embarrass anyone

who trusts and worships you.

⁷It is for your sake alone

that I am insulted and blush with shameH.

⁸I am like a stranger to my relatives

and like a foreigner to my own familyH.

⁹My love for your houseO burns in me like a fire,

and when others insult you,

they insulted me as well.

¹⁰I cried and went without foodH,

but they still insulted me.

¹¹They sneered at me for wearing sackclothO

to show my sorrow.

¹²Rulers and judges gossip about me,

and drunkards make up songs to mock me.

¹³But I pray to you, Lord.

So when the time is right, answer me

and help me with your wonderful love.

¹⁴ CDon't let me sink in the mud,

but save me from my enemies

and from the deep water.

¹⁵Don't let me be swept away by a flood

or drowned in the ocean or swallowed by death.

¹⁶Answer me, Lord! You are kind and good.

Pay attention to me! You are truly merciful.

¹⁷Don't turn away from me.

I am your servant, and I am in trouble.

Please hurry and help!

¹⁸Come and save me from my enemies.

¹⁹ CYou know how I am insulted, mocked, and disgraced;

you know every one of my enemies.

²⁰I am crushed by insults, and I feel sick.

I had hoped for mercy and pity, but there was none.

²¹Enemies poisoned my food,

and when I was thirsty, they gave me vinegarI.

²² C Make their table a trapI for them and their friends.

²³Blind them with darkness and make them tremble.

²⁴Show them how angry you are!

Be furious and catch them.

²⁵ C Destroy their camp

and don't let anyone live in their tents.

²⁶They cause trouble for people you have already punished;

their gossip hurts those you have wounded.

²⁷Make them guiltier than ever and don't forgive them.

²⁸Wipe their names from the book of the livingI;

remove them from the list of the innocent.

²⁹I am mistreated and in pain.

Protect me, God, and keep me safe!

³⁰I will praise the Lord God

with a song and a thankful heart.

³¹This will please the Lord better than offering an ox

or a full-grown bullI.

³²When those in need see this, they will be happy,

and the Lord's worshipers will be encouraged.

³³The Lord will listen when the homeless cry out,

and he will never forget his people in prisonP.

³⁴Heaven and earth will praise our God,

and so will the oceans and everything in them.

³⁵God will rescue Jerusalem,

and he will rebuild the towns of JudahH.

His people will live there on their own land,

³⁶and when the time comes,

their children will inherit the land.

Then everyone who loves God will also settle there.