A Cry for Help+

1Save me, O God!

The water is up to my neck;

2I 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.

3I 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 reason

are 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.

5My sins, O God, are not hidden from you;

you know how foolish I have been.

6Don'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!

7It is for your sake that I have been insulted

and that I am covered with shame.

8I 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.

10I humble myself+ by fasting,

and people insult me;

11I dress myself in clothes of mourning,

and they laugh at me.

12They talk about me in the streets,

and drunkards make up songs about me.

13But 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.

14Save me from sinking in the mud;

keep me safe from my enemies,

safe from the deep water.

15Don't let the flood come over me;

don't let me drown in the depths

or sink into the grave.

16Answer me, Lord, in the goodness of your constant love;

in your great compassion turn to me!

17Don't hide yourself from your servant;

I am in great trouble—answer me now!

18Come to me and save me;

rescue me from my enemies.

19You know how I am insulted,

how I am disgraced and dishonored;

you see all my enemies.

20Insults 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.

23Strike them with blindness!

Make their backs always weak!

24Pour 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.

26They persecute those whom you have punished;

they talk about the sufferings of those you have wounded.

27Keep 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.

29But I am in pain and despair;

lift me up, O God, and save me!

30I will praise God with a song;

I will proclaim his greatness by giving him thanks.

31This will please the Lord more than offering him cattle,

more than sacrificing a full-grown bull.

32When the oppressed see this, they will be glad;

those who worship God will be encouraged.

33The Lord listens to those in need

and does not forget his people in prison.

34Praise God, O heaven and earth,

seas and all creatures in them.

35He will save Jerusalem

and rebuild the towns of Judah.

His people will live there and possess the land;

36the descendants of his servants will inherit it,

and those who love him will live there.