To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. 8,6,8,6 ^1Save me, O God, because the floods do so environ me, That ev'n unto my very soul come in the waters be. ^2I downward in deep mire do sink, where standing there is none: I am into deep waters come, where floods have o'er me gone. ^3I weary with my crying am, my throat is also dry'd; Mine eyes do fail, while for my God I waiting do abide. ^4Those men that do without a cause bear hatred unto me, Than are the hairs upon my head in number more they be: They that would me destroy, and are mine en'mies wrongfully, Are mighty: so what I took not, to render forc'd was I. They that would me destroy, and are mine en'mies wrongfully, Are mighty: so what I took not, to render forc'd was I. ^5Lord, thou my folly know'st, my sins not cover'd are from thee. ^6Let none that wait on thee be sham'd, Lord God of hosts, for me. O Lord, the God of Israel, let none, who search do make, And seek thee, be at any time confounded for my sake. ^7For I have borne reproach for thee, my face is hid with shame. ^8To brethren strange, to mother's sons an alien I became. ^9Because the zeal did eat me up, which to thine house I bear; And the reproaches cast at thee, upon me fallen are. ^10My tears and fasts, t' afflict my soul, were turned to my shame. ^11When sackcloth I did wear, to them a proverb I became. ^12The men that in the gate do sit against me evil spake; They also that vile drunkards were of me their song did make. ^13But, in an acceptable time, my pray'r, Lord, is to thee: In truth of thy salvation, Lord, and mercy great, hear me. ^14Deliver me out of the mire, from sinking do me keep; Free me from those that do me hate, and from the waters deep. ^15Let not the flood on me prevail, whose water overflows; Nor deep me swallow, nor the pit her mouth upon me close. ^16Hear me, O Lord, because thy love and kindness is most good; Turn unto me, according to thy mercies' multitude. ^17Nor from thy servant hide thy face: I'm troubled, soon attend. ^18Draw near my soul, and it redeem; me from my foes defend. ^19To thee is my reproach well known, my shame, and my disgrace: Those that mine adversaries be are all before thy face. ^20Reproach hath broke my heart; I'm full of grief: I look'd for one To pity me, but none I found; comforters found I none. ^21They also bitter gall did give unto me for my meat: They gave me vinegar to drink, when as my thirst was great. ^22Before them let their table prove a snare; and do thou make Their welfare and prosperity a trap themselves to take. ^23Let thou their eyes so darken'd be, that sight may them forsake; And let their loins be made by thee continually to shake. ^24Thy fury pour thou out on them, and indignation; And let thy wrathful anger, Lord, fast hold take them upon. ^25All waste and desolate let be their habitation; And in their tabernacles all inhabitants be none. ^26Because him they do persecute, whom thou didst smite before; They talk unto the grief of those whom thou hast wounded sore. ^27Add thou iniquity unto their former wickedness; And do not let them come at all into thy righteousness. ^28Out of the book of life let them be raz'd and blotted quite; Among the just and righteous let not their names be writ. ^29But now become exceeding poor and sorrowful am I: By thy salvation, O my God, let me be set on high. ^30The name of God I with a song most cheerfully will praise; And I, in giving thanks to him, his name shall highly raise. ^31This to the Lord a sacrifice more gracious shall prove Than bullock, ox, or any beast that hath both horn and hoof. ^32When this the humble men shall see, it joy to them shall give: O all ye that do seek the Lord, your hearts shall ever live. ^33For God the poor hears, and will not his prisoners contemn. ^34Let heav'n, and earth, and seas, him praise, and all that move in them. ^35For God will Judah's cities build, and he will Sion save, That they may dwell therein, and it in sure possession have. ^36And they that are his servants' seed inherit shall the same; So shall they have their dwelling there that love his blessed name. |