1For the leader. Set to "Lilies." By David: Save me, God! For the water threatens my life.
2I am sinking down in the mud, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep water; the flood is sweeping over me.
3I am exhausted from crying, my throat is dry and sore, my eyes are worn out with looking for my God.
4Those who hate me for no reason outnumber the hairs on my head. My persecutors are powerful, my enemies accuse me falsely. Am I expected to return things I didn't steal?
5God, you know how foolish I am; my guilt is not hidden from you.
6Let those who put their hope in you, Adonai ELOHIM-Tzva'ot, not be put to shame through me; let those who are seeking you, God of Isra'el, not be disgraced through me.
7For your sake I suffer insults, shame covers my face.
8I am estranged from my brothers, an alien to my mother's children,
9because zeal for your house is eating me up, and on me are falling the insults of those insulting you.
10I weep bitterly, and I fast, but that too occasions insults.
11I clothe myself with sackcloth and become an object of scorn, 856
12the gossip of those sitting by the town gate, the theme of drunkards' songs.
13As for me, ADONAI, let my prayer to you come at an acceptable time; In your great grace, God, answer me with the truth of your salvation.
14Rescue me from the mud! Don't let me sink! Let me be rescued from those who hate me and from the deep water.
15Don't let the floodwaters overwhelm me, don't let the deep swallow me up, don't let the pit close its mouth over me.
16Answer me, ADONAI, for your grace is good; in your great mercy, turn to me.
17Don't hide your face from your servant, for I am in trouble; answer me quickly.
18Come near to me, and redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies.
19You know how I am insulted, shamed and disgraced; before you stand all my foes.
20Insults have broken my heart to the point that I could die. I hoped that someone would show compassion, but nobody did; and that there would be comforters, but I found none.
21They put poison in my food; in my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.
22Let their dining table before them become a snare; when they are at peace, let it become a trap;
23let their eyes be darkened, so that they can't see, and let their bodies always be stumbling.
24Pour out your fury on them, let your fierce anger overtake them.
25Let the place where they live be desolate, with no one to live in their tents,
26for persecuting someone you had already stricken, for adding to the pain of those you wounded.
27Add guilt to their guilt, don't let them enter your righteousness.
28Erase them from the book of life, let them not be written with the righteous.
29Meanwhile, I am afflicted and hurting; God, let your saving power raise me up.
30I will praise God's name with a song and extol him with thanksgiving.
31This will please ADONAI more than a bull, with its horns and hoofs.
32The afflicted will see it and rejoice; you seeking after God, let your heart revive.
33For ADONAI pays attention to the needy and doesn't scorn his captive people.
34Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and whatever moves in them.
35For God will save Tziyon, he will build the cities of Y'hudah. [His people] will settle there and possess it.
36The descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will live there.