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 have threatened my life.

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 have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows 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; My 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.

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.

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

O God, it is You who knows my folly, And my wrongs are not hidden from You.

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.

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,

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

Because for Your sake I have borne reproach; Dishonor has covered my face.

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

I have become estranged from my brothers And an alien to 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 zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.

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

When I wept in my soul with fasting, It became my reproach.

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

When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

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

Those who sit in the gate talk about me, And I am 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 to You, O Lord, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with Your saving truth.

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 from the mire and do not let me sink; May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep 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.

May the flood of water not overflow me Nor the deep swallow me up, Nor the pit shut its mouth on 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 Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me,

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

And do not hide Your face from Your servant, For I am in distress; answer me quickly.

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

Oh draw near to my soul and redeem it; Ransom me because of my enemies!

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

You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor; All my adversaries are before You.

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 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.

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

They also gave me gall for my food And for 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.

May their table before them become a snare; And when they are in peace, may it become a trap.

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

May their eyes grow dim so that they cannot see, And make their loins shake continually.

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

Pour out Your indignation on them, And may Your burning anger overtake them.

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

May their camp be desolate; May none dwell in their tents.

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

For they have persecuted him whom You Yourself have smitten, And they tell of the pain of those whom You have wounded.

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

Add iniquity to their iniquity, And may they not come into Your righteousness.

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

May they be blotted out of the book of life And may they not be recorded with the righteous.

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

But I am afflicted and in pain; May Your salvation, O God, set me securely 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 song And magnify Him with thanksgiving.

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

And it will please the Lord better than an ox Or a young bull with horns and hoofs.

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

The humble have seen it and are glad; You who seek God, let your heart revive.

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

For the Lord hears the needy And does not despise His who are prisoners.

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

Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and everything that moves in them.

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 build the cities of Judah, That they may dwell there and possess it.

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

The descendants of His servants will inherit it, And those who love His name will dwell in it.