A Psalm of David.

1Save me, O God; for the waters have come up to my neck. 2I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I am in deep waters, where the floods overflow me. 3I am weary of crying for help. My throat is dried; my eyes fail as I wait for my God. 4Those who hate me and would destroy me without reason are more numerous than the hairs of my head; they, being powerful, wrongfully demand that I return what I did not take. 5O God, You know my folly; and my sins are not hidden from You.

6O LORD God of hosts, do not let them who trust in You be disgraced; nor let those who seek You be dishonored because of me, O God of Israel. 7For I endure scorn for Your sake; my humiliation is written all over my face. 8I have become a stranger and an alien to my own brothers. 9The zeal for Your house has consumed me; and those insults toward You also fall upon me. 10When I weep and fast, they scoff at me. 11When I wore sackcloth; even that they made fun of. 12Those who sit in the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards.

13But as for me, my prayer is unto You, O LORD, in a time acceptable to You, O God; in the abundance of Your mercy, answer me with Your sure salvation. 14Save me from sinking in the mire; rescue me from those who hate me, and from deep water. 15Keep the floodwaters and the deep from engulfing me, and the pit of death from devouring me. 16Hear me, O LORD; for Your loving-kindness is good. Turn to me according to Your tender mercies. 17Do not hide Your face from Your servant; for I am in distress. Please answer me speedily. 18Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; deliver me from my enemies. 19You know how I am scorned, shamed, and dishonored; all my adversaries are before You. 20I am disheartened by their insults, and am in despair. I looked for compassion, but there was none; and for comforters, but found none. 21They put gall in my food; and gave me vinegar to drink for my thirst.

22Let their own table become a snare before them; and let what should have been for their benefit become their undoing. 23Let their eyes be dimmed, so that they cannot see; and make their bodies continually tremble. 24Pour Your indignation out upon them, and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them. 25Let their homes become desolate; and let no one live in their tents. 26They persecute those You have already punished; and they recount the grief of those whom You have chastened. 27Add guilt to their guilt, and do not let them share in Your righteousness. 28Let them be blotted out of the Book of the Life, and not be numbered with the righteous.

29I am in pain and distress; let Your salvation, O God, set me safely on high. 30I will praise the name of God with a song, and will exalt Him with thanksgiving. 31This shall please the LORD more than an ox or bullock with horns and hoofs.

32The humble shall see their God at work, and be glad; let all that seek God be encouraged. 33For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise His captive people.

34Let the heaven and earth praise Him, the seas, and everything that moves in them. 35For God will save Zion, and will rebuild the cities of Judah, that His people may settle and dwell there. 36The children of His servants shall also inherit it, and they who love His name shall dwell there.