1 T o the Overseer. -- `On the Lilies,' by David. Save me, O God, for come have waters unto the soul.

Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto soul.

2 I have sunk in deep mire, And there is no standing, I have come into the depths of the waters, And a flood hath overflown me.

I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I am come into the depths of waters, and the flood overfloweth me.

3 I have been wearied with my calling, Burnt hath been my throat, Consumed have been mine eyes, waiting for my God.

I am weary with my crying, my throat is parched; mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

4 T hose hating me without cause Have been more than the hairs of my head, Mighty have been my destroyers, My lying enemies, That which I took not away -- I bring back.

They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

5 O God, Thou -- Thou hast known Concerning my overturn, And my desolations from Thee have not been hid.

Thou, O God, knowest my foolishness, and my trespasses are not hidden from thee.

6 L et not those waiting on Thee be ashamed because of me, O Lord, Jehovah of Hosts, Let not those seeking Thee Blush because of me, O God of Israel.

Let not them that wait on thee, Lord, Jehovah of hosts, be ashamed through me; let not those that seek thee be confounded through me, O God of Israel.

7 F or because of Thee I have borne reproach, Shame hath covered my face.

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; confusion hath covered my face.

8 A stranger I have been to my brother, And a foreigner to sons of my mother.

I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's sons;

9 F or zeal for Thy house hath consumed me, And the reproaches of Thy reproachers Have fallen upon me.

For the zeal of thy house hath devoured me, and the reproaches of them that reproach thee have fallen upon me.

10 A nd I weep in the fasting of my soul, And it is for a reproach to me.

And I wept, my soul was fasting: that also was to my reproach;—

11 A nd I make my clothing sackcloth, And I am to them for a simile.

And I made sackcloth my garment: then I became a proverb to them.

12 T hose sitting at the gate meditate concerning me, And those drinking strong drink, Play on instruments.

They that sit in the gate talk of me, and the song of the drunkards.

13 A nd I -- my prayer to Thee, O Jehovah, A time of good pleasure, O God, In the abundance of Thy kindness, Answer me in the truth of Thy salvation.

But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, Jehovah, in an acceptable time: O God, in the abundance of thy loving-kindness answer me, according to the truth of thy salvation:

14 D eliver me from the mire, and let me not sink, Let me be delivered from those hating me, And from deep places of waters.

Deliver me out of the mire, let me not sink; let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the depths of waters.

15 L et not a flood of waters overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up, Nor let the pit shut her mouth upon me.

Let not the flood of waters overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up; and let not the pit shut its mouth upon me.

16 A nswer me, O Jehovah, for good Thy kindness, According to the abundance Of Thy mercies turn Thou unto me,

Answer me, O Jehovah; for thy loving-kindness is good: according to the abundance of thy tender mercies, turn toward me;

17 A nd hide not Thy face from Thy servant, For I am in distress -- haste, answer me.

And hide not thy face from thy servant, for I am in trouble: answer me speedily.

18 B e near unto my soul -- redeem it, Because of mine enemies ransom me.

Draw nigh unto my soul, be its redeemer; ransom me because of mine enemies.

19 T hou -- Thou hast known my reproach, And my shame, and my blushing, Before Thee all mine adversaries.

Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.

20 R eproach hath broken my heart, and I am sick, And I look for a bemoaner, and there is none, And for comforters, and I have found none.

Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am overwhelmed: and I looked for sympathy, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

21 A nd they give for my food gall, And for my thirst cause me to drink vinegar.

Yea, they gave me gall for my food, and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

22 T heir table before them is for a snare, And for a recompence -- for a trap.

Let their table become a snare before them, and their very welfare a trap;

23 D arkened are their eyes from seeing, And their loins continually shake Thou.

Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not, and make their loins continually to shake.

24 P our upon them Thine indignation, And the fierceness of Thine anger doth seize them.

Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let the fierceness of thine anger take hold of them.

25 T heir tower is desolated, In their tents there is no dweller.

Let their habitation be desolate; let there be no dweller in their tents.

26 F or they have pursued him Thou hast smitten, And recount of the pain of Thy pierced ones.

For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten, and they talk for the sorrow of those whom thou hast wounded.

27 G ive punishment for their iniquity, And they enter not into Thy righteousness.

Add iniquity unto their iniquity, and let them not come into thy righteousness.

28 T hey are blotted out of the book of life, And with the righteous are not written.

Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.

29 A nd I afflicted and pained, Thy salvation, O God, doth set me on high.

But I am afflicted and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me secure on high.

30 I praise the name of God with a song, And I magnify Him with thanksgiving,

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

31 A nd it is better to Jehovah than an ox, A bullock -- horned -- hoofed.

And it shall please Jehovah more than an ox,—a bullock with horns and cloven hoofs.

32 T he humble have seen -- they rejoice, Ye who seek God -- and your heart liveth.

The meek shall see it, they shall be glad; ye that seek God, your heart shall live.

33 F or Jehovah hearkeneth unto the needy, And His bound ones He hath not despised.

For Jehovah heareth the needy, and despiseth not his prisoners.

34 T he heavens and earth do praise Him, Seas, and every moving thing in them.

Let heavens and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moveth therein.

35 F or God doth save Zion, And doth build the cities of Judah, And they have dwelt there, and possess it.

For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah; and they shall dwell there, and possess it:

36 A nd the seed of His servants inherit it, And those loving His name dwell in it!

And the seed of his servants shall inherit it, and they that love his name shall dwell therein.