The Waters Are up to My Neck

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.

¹ Save me, O God,

for the waters are up to my neck.^*

² I have sunk into the miry depths,

where there is no footing;

I have drifted into deep waters,

where the flood engulfs me.

³ I am weary from my crying;

my throat is parched.

My eyes fail,

looking for my God.

⁴ Those who hate me without cause

outnumber the hairs of my head;

many are those who would destroy me —

my enemies for no reason.

Though I did not steal,

I must repay.^*

⁵ You know my folly, O God,

and my guilt is not hidden from You.

⁶ May those who hope in 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 For I have endured scorn for Your sake,

and shame has covered my face.

⁸ I have become a stranger to my brothers

and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

⁹ because zeal for Your house has consumed me,

and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.

¹⁰ I wept and fasted,

but it brought me reproach.

¹¹ I made sackcloth my clothing,

and I was sport to them.

¹² Those who sit at the gate mock me,

and I am the song of drunkards.

¹³ But my prayer to You, O LORD,

is for a time of favor.

In Your abundant loving devotion, O God,

answer me with Your sure salvation.

¹⁴ Rescue me^* from the mire

and do not let me sink;

deliver me^* from my foes

and out of the deep waters.

¹⁵ Do not let the floods engulf me

or the depths swallow me up;

let not the Pit close its mouth over me.

¹⁶ Answer me, O LORD,

for Your loving devotion is good;

turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.

¹⁷ Hide not Your face from Your servant,

for I am in distress.

Answer me quickly!

¹⁸ Draw near to my soul and redeem me;

ransom me because of my foes.

¹⁹ You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace.

All my adversaries are before You.

²⁰ Insults have broken my heart,

and I am in despair.

I looked for sympathy, but there was none,

for comforters, but I found no one.

²¹ They poisoned my food with gall

and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

²² May their table become a snare;

may it be a retribution and a trap.

²³ May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,

and their backs be bent forever.

²⁴ Pour out Your wrath upon them,

and let Your burning anger overtake them.

²⁵ May their place be deserted;

let there be no one to dwell in their tents.

²⁶ For they persecute the one You struck

and recount the pain^* of those You wounded.

²⁷ Add iniquity to their iniquity;

let them not share in Your righteousness.

²⁸ May they be blotted out of the Book of Life

and not listed with the righteous.

²⁹ But I am in pain and distress;

let Your salvation protect me, O God.

³⁰ I will praise God’s name in song

and exalt Him with thanksgiving.

³¹ And this will please the LORD more than an ox,

more than a bull with horns and hooves.

³² The humble will see and rejoice.

You who seek God, let your hearts be revived!

³³ For the LORD listens to the needy

and does not despise His captive people.

³⁴ Let heaven and earth praise Him,

the seas and everything that moves in them.

³⁵ For God will save Zion

and rebuild the cities of Judah,

that they may dwell there and possess it.

³⁶ The descendants of His servants will inherit it,

and those who love His name will settle in it.