1Save me , O God; For the waters are come in unto my soul. 2I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters , where the floods overflow me . 3I am weary with my crying; my throat is dried: Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. 4They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: They that would cut me off , being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: That which I took not away I have to restore. 5O God , thou knowest my foolishness; And my sins are not hid from thee .
The Suffering of the Righteous
6Let not them that wait for thee be put to shame through me , O Lord Jehovah of hosts: Let not those that seek thee be brought to dishonor through me , O God of Israel. 7Because for thy sake I have borne reproach ; Shame hath covered my face. 8I am become a stranger unto my brethren, And an alien unto my mother’s children. 9For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up ; And the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me . 10When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, That was to my reproach . 11When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword unto them . 12They that sit in the gate talk of me ; And I am the song of the drunkards.
A Plea for Salvation
13But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Jehovah , in an acceptable time: O God, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness, Answer me in the truth of thy salvation. 14Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: Let me be delivered from them that hate me , and out of the deep waters. 15Let not the waterflood overwhelm me , Neither let the deep swallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth upon me . 16Answer me , O Jehovah ; for thy lovingkindness is good: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies turn thou unto me . 17And hide not thy face from thy servant; For I am in distress; answer me speedily. 18Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it : Ransom me because of mine enemies .
The Judgment of the Wicked
19Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor: Mine adversaries are all before thee. 20Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none ; And for comforters, but I found none . 21They gave me also gall for my food; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. 22Let their table before them become a snare; And when they are in peace, let it become a trap. 23Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see; And make their loins continually to shake. 24Pour out thine indignation upon them , And let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them . 25Let their habitation be desolate; Let none dwell in their tents. 26For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; And they tell of the sorrow of those whom thou hast wounded. 27Add iniquity unto their iniquity; And let them not come into thy righteousness. 28Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous .
A Song of Praise
29But I am poor and sorrowful: Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. 30I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving. 31And it will please Jehovah better than an ox, Or a bullock that hath horns and hoofs. 32The meek have seen it , and are glad : Ye that seek after God , let your heart live. 33For Jehovah heareth the needy, And despiseth not his prisoners. 34Let heaven and earth praise him , The seas, and everything that moveth therein. 35For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah; And they shall abide there , and have it in possession. 36The seed also of his servants shall inherit it ; And they that love his name shall dwell therein .