Psalm 69

Psalm 69 Friday Readings 3

Save me, God, * for the waters have reached my neck.

I have sunk into the abysmal Mire * where there is no footing.

I have entered the bottomless waters * where the vortex engulfs me.

I am wearied by my crying; * my throat is hoarse.

My eyes grow bleary * as I wait, my God.

More numerous than the hairs on my head * are my stealthy enemies.

Many more than my hair * are my deceitful foes.

What I did not steal, * this must I restore?

God, you know my folly; * and my faults are not hidden from you.

May they who hope in you not be disgraced * through me, Lord Yahweh of Armies.

May they who seek you not be disappointed * through me, God of Israel.

Because of you I have suffered abuse, * and disgrace has covered my face.

I have become a stranger to my brothers, * an alien to my mother's sons.

For zeal for your house has eaten me up, * and the insults of your insulters have fallen on me.

So I poured out my soul while fasting, * and abuse itself was mine.

I made sackcloth my garb, * and became a joke to them.

Feasters and drunkards * compose songs to mock me.

As for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh; * God, favor me now!

In your great kindness answer me * with your faithful help.

Rescue me from the Mire * lest I be submerged.

Let me be rescued from my Enemy, * and from the bottomless waters.

Let not the vortex of the sea engulf me, * or the abyss ever swallow me, * or the Pit close its mouth on me.

Answer me, Yahweh, * for your love is bounteous.

As befits your abundant mercy, * turn your face toward me.

Do not turn away * your face from your servant.

Because distress is mine, * quickly answer me.

Draw near, El, redeem me; * ransom me from the Abode of my Foe.

You know my abuse; * my shame and my disgrace are before you.

Abuse has wasted my entrails; * disease has crushed my heart.

I looked for a comforter, but there was none, * and for consolers, but I found none.

They put poison in my food, * and for my thirst they served me vinegar.

May their table be a trap before them, * and their companions a snare.

May their eyes grow too dim to see, * and their thighs continually shake.

Pour on them your wrath; * let your raging fury overtake them.

Let their camp be deserted, * in their tents there be no one to live,

because the one you struck they persecuted, * the pain of him you wounded they gossiped about.

Charge them with crime after crime; * let them not enter your Field.

Let them be erased from the book of life, * and not inscribed among the just.

But I am afflicted and in pain; * may God's help sustain me,

that I might praise God's Name in song,* and extol it with hymns of thanks.

For this will please Yahweh more than a bull, * than an ox with horns and hoofs.

Look, you oppressed; * let those who seek God rejoice; * may your courage revive!

For El hears his poor; * Yahweh does not despise those bound to him.

Let heaven and earth praise him, * the seas and all that stirs in them.

Surely God will save Zion, * and rebuild the cities of Judah. * Those expelled from it will return there.

The offspring of his servants will inherit it; * those who love his name will settle there.