1 S ave me, O God, for the waters have almost taken my life.

2 I have gone down into deep mud and there is no place to put my feet. I have come into deep waters and a flood comes over me.

3 I have cried until I am tired. My mouth is dry. My eyes become weak while I wait for my God.

4 T hose who hate me, without a reason, are more than the hairs on my head. Those who want to destroy me are powerful. I am made to return things that I did not steal.

5 O God, You know how foolish I am. My sins are not hidden from You.

6 M ay those who wait for You not be put to shame because of me, O Lord God of All. May those who look for You not lose respect because of me, O God of Israel.

7 I have been put to shame because of You. Shame has covered my face.

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, a stranger to my mother’s sons.

9 F or the strong desire for Your house has burned me up. And the bad things said about You have fallen on me.

10 W hen I cried and went without food, I was put to shame.

11 W hen I put on clothes made from hair, they made fun of me.

12 T hose who sit by the gate talk about me. And I am the song of those who drink too much.

13 B ut as for me, my prayer is to You at the right time, O Lord. Answer me with Your saving truth in Your great loving-kindness, O God.

14 T ake me out of the mud and do not let me go down in it. Take me away from those who hate me and from the deep waters.

15 K eep the flood water from covering me. Do not let the sea swallow me up. Do not let the deep hole close its mouth over me.

16 A nswer me, O Lord, for Your loving-kindness is good. Turn to me because of Your great loving-pity.

17 D o not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble. Hurry to answer me.

18 C ome near to me and save me. Pay the price to set me free from those who hate me.

19 Y ou know how I have been put to shame by the bad things said about me. All those who hate me are before You.

20 B eing put to shame has broken my heart, and I feel very sick. I looked for pity but there was none. I looked for someone to comfort me but there was no one.

21 T hey gave me bitter drink in my food. And because I was thirsty they gave me sour wine.

22 M ay their table in front of them become a net. May it become a trap when they are in peace.

23 M ay their eyes grow dark so they cannot see. And may their backs always shake.

24 P our out Your anger on them. May Your burning anger catch up with them.

25 M ay their place of living be empty and may no one live in their tents.

26 F or they have made it hard for the one You have punished. And they talk about the pain of those You have hurt.

27 L et their sins add up, and may they not become right with You.

28 M ay they be taken out of the book of life, and not be written down with those who are right with You.

29 B ut I am suffering and in pain. O God, may You save me and set me up on high.

30 I will praise the name of God with song. And I will give Him great honor with much thanks.

31 T his will please the Lord more than any ox or young bull with horns and hoofs.

32 T hose without pride will see it and be glad. You who look for God, let your heart receive new strength.

33 F or the Lord hears those who are in need, and does not hate His people in prison.

34 L et heaven and earth and the seas and all the things that move in them give thanks to Him.

35 F or God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah. Then His people may live there and have it for their own.

36 A nd the children of those who obey Him will have it given to them. Those who love His name will live there.