1 Save me, O God!The water is up to my neck;
2 I am sinking in deep mud,and there is no solid ground;I am out in deep water,and the waves are about to drown me.
3 I am worn out from calling for help,and my throat is aching.I have strained my eyes,looking for your help.
4 Those who hate me for no reasonare more numerous than the hairs of my head.My enemies tell lies against me;they are strong and want to kill me.They made me give back things I did not steal.
5 My sins, O God, are not hidden from you;you know how foolish I have been.
6 Don't let me bring shame on those who trust in you,Sovereign Lord Almighty!Don't let me bring disgrace to those who worship you,O God of Israel!
7 It is for your sake that I have been insultedand that I am covered with shame.
8 I am like a stranger to my relatives,like a foreigner to my family.
9 My devotion to your Temple burns in me like a fire;the insults which are hurled at you fall on me.
10 I humble myself by fasting,and people insult me;
11 I dress myself in clothes of mourning,and they laugh at me.
12 They talk about me in the streets,and drunkards make up songs about me.
13 But as for me, I will pray to you, Lord;answer me, God, at a time you choose.Answer me because of your great love,because you keep your promise to save.
14 Save me from sinking in the mud;keep me safe from my enemies,safe from the deep water.
15 Don't let the flood come over me;don't let me drown in the depthsor sink into the grave.
16 Answer me, Lord, in the goodness of your constant love;in your great compassion turn to me!
17 Don't hide yourself from your servant;I am in great trouble—answer me now!
18 Come to me and save me;rescue me from my enemies.
19 You know how I am insulted,how I am disgraced and dishonored;you see all my enemies.
20 Insults have broken my heart,and I am in despair.I had hoped for sympathy, but there was none;for comfort, but I found none.
21 When I was hungry, they gave me poison;when I was thirsty, they offered me vinegar.
22 May their banquets cause their ruin;may their sacred feasts cause their downfall.
23 Strike them with blindness!Make their backs always weak!
24 Pour out your anger on them;let your indignation overtake them.
25 May their camps be left deserted;may no one be left alive in their tents.
26 They persecute those whom you have punished;they talk about the sufferings of those you have wounded.
27 Keep a record of all their sins;don't let them have any part in your salvation.
28 May their names be erased from the book of the living;may they not be included in the list of your people.
29 But I am in pain and despair;lift me up, O God, and save me!
30 I will praise God with a song;I will proclaim his greatness by giving him thanks.
31 This will please the Lord more than offering him cattle,more than sacrificing a full-grown bull.
32 When the oppressed see this, they will be glad;those who worship God will be encouraged.
33 The Lord listens to those in needand does not forget his people in prison.
34 Praise God, O heaven and earth,seas and all creatures in them.
35 He will save Jerusalemand rebuild the towns of Judah.His people will live there and possess the land;
36 the descendants of his servants will inherit it,and those who love him will live there.