The Waters Have Come Up to My Neck

Verses 1–29 · sinking in deep waters, scorned and alone

1. ^{verse 1}Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.
2. ^{verse 2}I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.
3. ^{verse 3}I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
4. ^{verse 4}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.
5. ^{verse 5}You know my folly, O God, and my guilt is not hidden from You.
6. ^{verse 6}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.
7. ^{verse 7}For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face.
8. ^{verse 8}I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,
9. ^{verse 9}because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.
10. ^{verse 10}I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach.
11. ^{verse 11}I made sackcloth my clothing, and I was sport to them.
12. ^{verse 12}Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of drunkards.
13. ^{verse 13}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.
14. ^{verse 14}Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters.
15. ^{verse 15}Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me.
16. ^{verse 16}Answer me, O LORD, for Your loving devotion is good; turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.
17. ^{verse 17}Hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!
18. ^{verse 18}Draw near to my soul and redeem me; ransom me because of my foes.
19. ^{verse 19}You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You.
20. ^{verse 20}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.
21. ^{verse 21}They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.
22. ^{verse 22}May their table become a snare; may it be a retribution and a trap.
23. ^{verse 23}May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.
24. ^{verse 24}Pour out Your wrath upon them, and let Your burning anger overtake them.
25. ^{verse 25}May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.
26. ^{verse 26}For they persecute the one You struck and recount the pain of those You wounded.
27. ^{verse 27}Add iniquity to their iniquity; let them not share in Your righteousness.
28. ^{verse 28}May they be blotted out of the Book of Life and not listed with the righteous.
29. ^{verse 29}But I am in pain and distress; let Your salvation protect me, O God.

Verses 30–36 · praise and hope for the humble

1. ^{verse 30}I will praise God’s name in song and exalt Him with thanksgiving.
2. ^{verse 31}And this will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.
3. ^{verse 32}The humble will see and rejoice. You who seek God, let your hearts be revived!
4. ^{verse 33}For the LORD listens to the needy and does not despise His captive people.
5. ^{verse 34}Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.
6. ^{verse 35}For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.
7. ^{verse 36}The descendants of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will settle in it.