Psalm 69:1-36 ERV

[1] God, save me from all my troubles! The rising water has reached my neck. [2] I have nothing to stand on. I am sinking down, down into the mud. I am in deep water, and the waves are about to cover me. [3] I am getting weak from calling for help. My throat is sore. I have waited and looked for your help until my eyes are hurting. [4] I have more enemies than the hairs on my head. They hate me for no reason. They try hard to destroy me. My enemies tell lies about me. They say I stole from them and they demand that I pay for things I did not steal. [5] God, you know my faults. I cannot hide my sins from you. [6] My Lord GOD All-Powerful, don't let me embarrass your followers. God of Israel, don't let me bring disgrace to those who worship you. [7] My face is covered with shame. I carry this shame for you. [8] My own brothers treat me like a stranger. They act as if I came from a foreign land. [9] My strong devotion to your Temple is destroying me. Those who insult you are also insulting me. [10] When I spend time crying and fasting, they make fun of me. [11] When I wear sackcloth to show my sorrow, they tell jokes about me. [12] They talk about me in public places. The beer drinkers make up songs about me. [13] As for me, LORD, this is my prayer to you: Please accept me! God, I want you to answer me with love. I know I can trust you to save me. [14] Pull me from the mud, and don't let me sink down deeper. Save me from those who hate me. Save me from this deep water. [15] Don't let the waves drown me. Don't let the deep sea swallow me or the grave close its mouth on me. [16] Answer me, LORD, from the goodness of your faithful love. Out of your great kindness turn to me and help me! [17] Don't turn away from your servant. I am in trouble, so hurry and help me! [18] Come save my soul. Rescue me from my enemies. [19] You know the shame I have suffered. You know all my enemies. You saw how they humiliated me. [20] I feel the pain of their insults. The shame makes me feel like dying! I wanted some sympathy, but there was none. I waited for someone to comfort me, but no one came. [21] They gave me poison, not food. They gave me vinegar, not wine. [22] Their tables are covered with food. Let their fellowship meals destroy them. [23] Let them go blind and their backs become weak. [24] Show them how angry you are. Let them feel what your anger can do. [25] Make their homes empty. Don't let anyone live there. [26] They try to hurt people you have already punished. They tell everyone about the suffering you gave them. [27] Punish them for the bad things they have done. Don't show them how good you can be. [28] Erase their names from the book of life. Don't let their names appear on the list of those who do what is right. [29] I am sad and hurting. God, lift me up and save me! [30] I will praise God's name in song. I will honor him by giving him thanks. [31] The LORD will be happier with this than with the offering of an ox or a full-grown bull as a sacrifice. [32] Poor people, you came to worship God. You will be happy to know these things. [33] The LORD listens to poor, helpless people. He does not turn away from those who are in prison. [34] Praise him, heaven and earth! Sea and everything in it, praise him! [35] God will save Zion. He will rebuild the cities of Judah. The people will settle there again and own the land. [36] The descendants of his servants will get that land. Those who love his name will live there.