The Waters Are up to My Neck

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

Save me, O God,

for the waters are up to my neck.

I have sunk into the miry depths,

where there is no footing;

I have drifted into deep waters,

where the flood engulfs me.

I am weary from my crying;

my throat is parched.

My eyes fail,

looking for my God.

Those who hate me without cause

outnumber the hairs of my head;

many are those who would destroy me—

my enemies for no reason.

Though I did not steal,

I must repay.

You know my folly, O God,

and my guilt is not hidden from You.

May 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.

For I have endured scorn for Your sake,

and shame has covered my face.

I have become a stranger to my brothers

and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,

because zeal for Your house has consumed me,

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

I wept and fasted,

but it brought me reproach.

I made sackcloth my clothing,

and I was sport to them.

Those who sit at the gate mock me,

and I am the song of drunkards.

But 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.

Rescue me from the mire

and do not let me sink;

deliver me from my foes

and out of the deep waters.

Do not let the floods engulf me

or the depths swallow me up;

let not the Pit close its mouth over me.

Answer me, O LORD,

for Your loving devotion is good;

turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.

Hide not Your face from Your servant,

for I am in distress.

Answer me quickly!

Draw near to my soul and redeem me;

ransom me because of my foes.

You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace.

All my adversaries are before You.

Insults have broken my heart,

and I am in despair.

I looked for sympathy, but there was none,

for comforters, but I found no one.

They poisoned my food with gall

and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.

May their table become a snare;

may it be a retribution and a trap.

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,

and their backs be bent forever.

Pour out Your wrath upon them,

and let Your burning anger overtake them.

May their place be deserted;

let there be no one to dwell in their tents.

For they persecute the one You struck

and recount the pain of those You wounded.

Add iniquity to their iniquity;

let them not share in Your righteousness.

May they be blotted out of the Book of Life

and not listed with the righteous.

But I am in pain and distress;

let Your salvation protect me, O God.

I will praise God’s name in song

and exalt Him with thanksgiving.

And this will please the LORD more than an ox,

more than a bull with horns and hooves.

The humble will see and rejoice.

You who seek God, let your hearts be revived!

For the LORD listens to the needy

and does not despise His captive people.

Let heaven and earth praise Him,

the seas and everything that moves in them.

For God will save Zion

and rebuild the cities of Judah,

that they may dwell there and possess it.

The descendants of His servants will inherit it,

and those who love His name will settle in it.