1. For the music director, on “Lilies,” of David.
2. Save me, O God, for the waters have reached my soul.
3. I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing, I have come into deep waters, and a flood sweeps over me.
4. I am worn out by my crying, my throat is parched, my eyes fail, waiting for my God.
5. Those who hate me without a cause outnumber the hairs of my head. Powerful are my enemies who would destroy me with lies. What I did not steal, must I restore?
6. O God, You know my folly, nor are my trespasses hidden from You.
7. May those who hope in You not be ashamed because of me, my Lord, Adonai-Tzva’ot. May those who seek You not be disgraced because of me, O God of Israel.
8. For I have endured scorn for Your sake. Disgrace has covered my face.
9. I have become a stranger to my brothers, a foreigner to my mother’s children.
10. For zeal for Your House consumed me— the insults of those who insulted You have fallen on me.
11. When I wept and fasted— that became a reproach to me.
12. When I put on sackcloth, I became a joke to them.
13. Those who sit at the gate chatter about me, and I am the song of the drunkards.
14. But as for me, my prayer to You, Adonai, is for a time of favor. O God, in Your great love, answer me with the truth of Your salvation.
15. Deliver me from the mire— do not let me sink. Deliver me from those who hate me, out of the deep waters.
16. Do not let floodwaters sweep over me, nor the deep swallow me up, nor the Pit shut its mouth over me.
17. Answer me, Adonai, for good is Your mercy. With Your great compassion, turn to me.
18. Hide not Your face from Your servant. For I am in distress—answer me quickly.
19. Draw near to my soul and redeem it. Ransom me because of my foes.
20. You know my reproach, my shame, my disgrace. All my adversaries are before You.
21. Scorn has broken my heart, so I am sick. I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but found none.
22. They put gall in my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
23. Let their table before them be a snare, and what should have been for their well-being, let it be a trap.
24. Let their eyes be darkened so they cannot see and their backs be bent forever.
25. Pour out Your indignation on them. Let Your fierce anger overtake them.
26. Let their encampment be deserted. Let none dwell in their tents.
27. For they persecute the one You have smitten, so they tell of the pain of those You have wounded.
28. Add guilt to their guilt—may they not come into Your righteousness.
29. May they be wiped out of the book of life and not be recorded with the righteous.
30. But I—I am afflicted and in pain. Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.
31. I will praise God’s Name with a song, and magnify Him with praise.
32. It will please Adonai better than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.
33. The humble will see it and be glad. You who seek God, let your hearts revive.
34. For Adonai hears the needy and does not despise His captive people.
35. Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything moving in them.
36. For God will save Zion, and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then they will dwell there and possess it.
37. The children of His servants will inherit it and those who love His Name will dwell there.