The Waters Are up to My Neck

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David.

1Save me, O God,

for the waters are up to my neck.

2I have sunk into the miry depths,

where there is no footing;

I have drifted into deep waters,

where the flood engulfs me.

3I am weary from my crying;

my throat is parched.

My eyes fail,

looking for my God.

4Those who hate me without cause

outnumber the hairs of my head;

many are those who would destroy me—

my enemies for no reason.a

Though I did not steal,

I must repay.

5You know my folly, O God,

and my guilt is not hidden from You.

6May those who hope in You not be ashamed through me,

O Lord GOD of Hosts;

may those who seek You not be dishonored through me,

O God of Israel.

7For I have endured scorn for Your sake,

and shame has covered my face.

8I have become a stranger to my brothers

and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

9because zeal for Your house has consumed me,b

and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.c

10I wept and fasted,

but it brought me reproach.

11I made sackcloth my clothing,

and I was sport to them.

12Those who sit at the gate mock me,

and I am the song of drunkards.

13But my prayer to You, O LORD,

is for a time of favor.

In Your abundant loving devotion, O God,

answer me with Your sure salvation.

14Rescue me from the mire

and do not let me sink;

deliver me from my foes

and out of the deep waters.

15Do not let the floods engulf me

or the depths swallow me up;

let not the Pit close its mouth over me.

16Answer me, O LORD,

for Your loving devotion is good;

turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.

17Hide not Your face from Your servant,

for I am in distress.

Answer me quickly!

18Draw near to my soul and redeem me;

ransom me because of my foes.

19You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace.

All my adversaries are before You.

20Insults have broken my heart,

and I am in despair.

I looked for sympathy, but there was none,

for comforters, but I found no one.

21They poisoned my food with gall

and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

22May their table become a snare;

may it be a retribution and a trap.d

23May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,

and their backs be bent forever.e

24Pour out Your wrath upon them,

and let Your burning anger overtake them.

25May their place be deserted;

let there be no one to dwell in their tents.f

26For they persecute the one You struck

and recount the pain of those You wounded.

27Add iniquity to their iniquity;

let them not share in Your righteousness.

28May they be blotted out of the Book of Life

and not listed with the righteous.

29But I am in pain and distress;

let Your salvation protect me, O God.

30I will praise God’s name in song

and exalt Him with thanksgiving.

31And this will please the LORD more than an ox,

more than a bull with horns and hooves.

32The humble will see and rejoice.

You who seek God, let your hearts be revived!

33For the LORD listens to the needy

and does not despise His captive people.

34Let heaven and earth praise Him,

the seas and everything that moves in them.

35For God will save Zion

and rebuild the cities of Judah,

that they may dwell there and possess it.

36The descendants of His servants will inherit it,

and those who love His name will settle in it.