1 S ave me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!

2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

3 I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

4 T hose who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn’t take away.

5 G od, you know my foolishness. My sins aren’t hidden from you.

6 D on’t let those who wait for you be shamed through me, Lord Yahweh of Armies. Don’t let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel.

7 B ecause for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s children.

9 F or the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

10 W hen I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach.

11 W hen I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

12 T hose who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.

13 B ut as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.

14 D eliver me out of the mire, and don’t let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.

15 D on’t let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don’t let the pit shut its mouth on me.

16 A nswer me, Yahweh, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.

17 D on’t hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily!

18 D raw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.

19 Y ou know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before you.

20 R eproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.

21 T hey also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

22 L et their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap.

23 L et their eyes be darkened, so that they can’t see. Let their backs be continually bent.

24 P our out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.

25 L et their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents.

26 F or they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.

27 C harge them with crime upon crime. Don’t let them come into your righteousness.

28 L et them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.

29 B ut I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.

30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31 I t will please Yahweh better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.

32 T he humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.

33 F or Yahweh hears the needy, and doesn’t despise his captive people.

34 L et heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves therein!

35 F or God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.

36 T he children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell therein.