1[For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Lilies." By David.] Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck.

2I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

3I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

4Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I did not take away.

5God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren't hidden from you.

6Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame because of me, LORD of hosts. Do not let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel.

7Because for your sake I suffer insults. Shame has covered my face.

8I have become a stranger to my brothers, a foreigner to my mother's children.

9For the zeal of your house consumes me. The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.

10When I wept and I fasted, it brought me insults.

11When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.

12Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.

13But as for me, my prayer is to you, LORD, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.

14Deliver me out of the mire, and do not let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.

15Do not let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Do not let the pit shut its mouth on me.

16Answer me, LORD, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.

17Do not hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily.

18Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.

19You know how I am insulted, and my shame, and my disgrace. My adversaries are all before you.

20Insults have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.

21They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.

22Let their table before them become a snare, and a retribution, and a trap, and a stumbling block.

23Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can't see, and make their backs weak continually.

24Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.

25Let their habitation be desolate, and let no one dwell in their tents.

26For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.

27Charge them with crime upon crime. Do not let them come into your righteousness.

28Let them be blotted out of the Book of Life, and not be written with the righteous.

29But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.

30I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.

31It will please the LORD better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.

32The humble will see it and rejoice. You who seek after God, let your heart live.

33For the LORD hears the needy, and doesn't despise his captive people.

34Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves in them.

35For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.

36The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell in it.