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Psalm 69

Prayer for Deliverance from Persecution

To the leader: according to Lilies. Of David.
¹ Save me, O God,
   for the waters have come up to my neck.
² I sink in deep mire,
   where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
   and the flood sweeps over me.
³ I am weary with my crying;
   my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
   with waiting for my God.

⁴ More in number than the hairs of my head
   are those who hate me without cause;
many are those who would destroy me,
   my enemies who accuse me falsely.
What I did not steal
   must I now restore?
⁵ O God, you know my folly;
   the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

⁶ Do not let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me,
   O Lord God of hosts;
do not let those who seek you be dishonoured because of me,
   O God of Israel.
⁷ It is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
   that shame has covered my face.
⁸ I have become a stranger to my kindred,
   an alien to my mother’s children.

⁹ It is zeal for your house that has consumed me;
   the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
¹⁰ When I humbled my soul with fasting,^*
   they insulted me for doing so.
¹¹ When I made sackcloth my clothing,
   I became a byword to them.
¹² I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate,
   and the drunkards make songs about me.

¹³ But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
   At an acceptable time, O God,
   in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.
With your faithful help ¹⁴rescue me
   from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
   and from the deep waters.
¹⁵ Do not let the flood sweep over me,
   or the deep swallow me up,
   or the Pit close its mouth over me.

¹⁶ Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
   according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
¹⁷ Do not hide your face from your servant,
   for I am in distress—make haste to answer me.
¹⁸ Draw near to me, redeem me,
   set me free because of my enemies.

¹⁹ You know the insults I receive,
   and my shame and dishonour;
   my foes are all known to you.
²⁰ Insults have broken my heart,
   so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none;
   and for comforters, but I found none.
²¹ They gave me poison for food,
   and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.