Psalm 69

W. van der Kamp, 1972; rev.

1. Save me, O God! The waters rise and leap
   Up to my neck; the roaring floods surround me.
   There is no foothold, deadly dangers hound me;
   I’ve come into the waters of the deep.
   I am engulfed by floods for me too great;
   My throat is parched, I’m weary with my crying.
   My eyes grow dim while for my God I wait.
   O LORD, give ear and listen to my crying.
   
2. More numerous than the hairs upon my head
   Are those who without cause or reason scorn me.
   Too strong for me are those whose hate has torn me;
   Those who attack me with their lies I dread.
   Must I restore now what I did not steal?
   I know I’ve done the things Thou hast forbidden.
   O God, my folly I did not conceal;
   From Thee my wrongs and misdeeds are not hidden.
   
3. Let not all those who put their hope in Thee
   Be put to shame through me and be forsaken;
   Let those who seek Thee not be overtaken
   By slander and disgrace because of me.
   O God of Israel, taunts and shame I’ve borne,
   And for Thy sake I am to friend and brother
   A stranger whom they disavow and scorn,
   An alien to the children of my mother.
   
4. For Thy great house I am consumed with zeal,
   And on me fall the taunts of those who taunt Thee.
   And when I weep and fast my haters hound me;
   Reproach and insult now to me they deal.
   And when of sackcloth I my clothing made,
   A byword I became to all who flout me.
   I am the talk of idlers in the gate;
   The drunkards make their mocking songs about me.
   
5. But as for me, my prayer is, LORD, to Thee.
   At Thy own time, O God my Helper, hear me,
   And with Thy great and steadfast love be near me;
   From sinking in the mire do rescue me.
   Deliver me from foes and waters deep;
   Incline Thy ear, O God, show me Thy favor,
   And draw me from the current’s mighty sweep.
   Let death not close its mouth on me, my Savior.
   
6. LORD, answer me: good is Thy steadfast love;
   O turn to me in Thy abundant mercy.
   Hide not Thy face, know how my haters curse me;
   I’m in distress, O hear me from above.
   Make haste to answer me, draw near to me,
   Redeem me, come and save Thy faithful servant;
   To Thee I call, O come and set me free
   From enemies and haters fierce and fervent.
   
7. Thou knowest my reproach, the shame I bear;
   Thou seest how my enemies disgrace me,
   For known to Thee are all those who abase me.
   Taunts broke my heart, and I am in despair.
   I looked for pity, but I found deceit,
   And for consolers, but they did desert me.
   They also gave me gall as food to eat
   And vinegar as drink when I was thirsty.
   
8. Let their own table be their snare, and make
   Their feasts of sacrifice a trap to slay them.
   Their eyes be dimmed, that blindness may repay them,
   And let their loins and limbs convulse and shake.
   Pour out Thy anger, let it not abate,
   And in Thy burning fury overtake them.
   Let their encampments be left desolate;
   Leave Thou their tents forgotten, and forsake them.
   
9. They persecute him whom Thy hand did smite;
   The pains of him Thou woundest, they increase them.
   Charge them with sin on sin, do not release them,
   And grant them no acquittal in Thy sight.
   Blot Thou their names out of the book of life
   And with Thy just decree, O God, delight us.
   Remember Thou their hearts with evil rife;
   Let them not be enrolled among the righteous.
   
10. Regard me in my pain and poverty.
    I am afflicted; LORD, let Thy salvation
    Set me on high. Restore my place and station.
    Hear me, O God, I put my trust in Thee.
    I will exalt the Name of God in song:
    He will strike down the sinners who defy Him.
    With harp and hymn I shall His praise prolong;
    With my thanksgiving I will magnify Him.
    
11. More than a sacrificial ox or bull
    My songs of praise and thankfulness will please Him.
    Let the oppressed be glad: God will release him,
    For He, my help, is great and merciful.
    You who seek God, now let your hearts revive;
    Rejoice and sing, the LORD will hear the needy.
    His captive people He will cause to thrive.
    Since He does not despise us, He will heed me.
    
12. Let heav’n and earth praise Him with grateful songs,
    The seas and all that stirs in them adore Him,
    His people come with shouts of joy before Him,
    For God shall save His Zion from her wrongs
    And Judah’s cities will the LORD rebuild.
    There will His servants be, in praise excelling.
    With their descendants will the land be filled;
    And those who love His Name find there a dwelling.