To the Chief Musician upon shoshannim.
A Psalm of David.
A Cry For Help in Time of Trouble

1Save me, O God; for the waters have come in unto my soul.

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

3I am weary from my crying: my throat is dried: my eyes fail while I wait for my God.

4They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: they that would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

5O God, you know my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from you.

6Let not them that wait on you, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek you be disgraced for my sake, O God of Israel.

7Because for your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face.

8I have become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.

9For the zeal of your house has eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached you are fallen upon me.

10When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.

11I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.

12They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

13But as for me, my prayer is unto you, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of your mercy hear me, in the truth of your salvation.

14Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

15Let not the floodwater overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut its mouth upon me.

16Hear me, O LORD; for your lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of your tender mercies.

17And hide not your face from your servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.

18Draw near unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of my enemies.

19You have known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor: my adversaries are all before you.

20Reproach has broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.

21They gave me also gall for my food; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

22Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.

23Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

24Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your wrathful anger take hold of them.

25Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.

26For they persecute him whom you have smitten; and they talk of the grief of those whom you have wounded.

27Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into your righteousness.

28Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

29But I am poor and sorrowful: let your salvation, O God, set me up on high.

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

31This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that has horns and hoofs.

32The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your hearts shall live that seek God.

33For the LORD hears the poor, and despises not his prisoners.

34Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moves therein.

35For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.

36The children also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.