69:1 For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” A psalm of David. God, ·save me [give me victory], because the water has risen to my neck [C the waters of chaos].
69:2 I’m sinking down into the ·mud [mire], and there is nothing to stand on. I ·am in deep water [have come into the depths of the waters], and the flood ·covers [overwhelms] me.
69:3 I am ·tired [exhausted] from calling for help; my throat is ·sore [dry]. My eyes are ·tired [worn out] from ·waiting [hoping] for God to help me.
69:4 There are more people who hate me for no reason than hairs on my head; ·powerful [or many] enemies want to destroy me for no reason. They make me ·pay back [return] what I did not steal.
69:5 God, you know ·what I have done wrong [my foolishness]; I cannot hide my guilt from you.
69:6 Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], do not let those who ·hope in [wait for] you be ashamed because of me. God of Israel, do not let ·your worshipers [L those who seek you] be disgraced because of me.
69:7 For you, I carry this ·shame [reproach; scorn], and my face is covered with disgrace.
69:8 I am like a stranger to my closest relatives and a foreigner to my mother’s children.
69:9 My ·strong love [jealousy; passion; zeal] for your ·Temple [L house] ·completely controls [L consumes] me [John 2:17]. ·When people insult you, it hurts me [L The reproaches/scorn of those who reproach/scorn you fall on me; Rom. 15:3].
69:10 When I ·cry [weep] and fast, they ·make fun of [reproach; scorn] me.
69:11 When I wear ·rough cloth [sackcloth; burlap; C a sign of grief], ·they joke about me [L I am a byword/proverb/joke to them].
69:12 ·They make fun of me in public places [L Those who sit in the gate complain about me], and the drunkards make up songs about me.
69:13 But I pray to you, Lord, ·for favor [or at an appropriate time]. God, because of your great ·love [loyalty], answer me. You are ·truly able [faithful] to ·save [give victory].
69:14 ·Pull [Protect] me from the ·mud [mire], and do not let me sink. ·Save [Protect] me from those who hate me and from the deep water.
69:15 Do not let the flood ·drown [overwhelm] me or the deep water swallow me or the ·grave [L pit] close its mouth over me.
69:16 Lord, answer me because your ·love [loyalty] is so good. Because of your ·great kindness [abundant compassion], turn to me.
69:17 Do not hide your face from me, your servant. I am in ·trouble [distress]. Hurry to ·help [L answer] me!
69:18 Come near and ·save [ransom] me; ·rescue [redeem] me from my enemies.
69:19 You ·see [know] my ·shame [reproach; scorn] and disgrace. ·You know all my enemies and what they have said [L The humiliation of all my foes is before you].
69:20 ·Insults [Reproach; Scorn] have broken my heart and ·left me weak [I am depressed]. I ·looked [hoped; waited] for ·sympathy [pity; consolation], but there was none; I found no one to comfort me.
69:21 They ·put [L gave me] poison in my food and gave me vinegar to drink for my thirst [Matt. 27:48; Mark 15:23, 36; Luke 23:36; John 19:29].
69:22 Let their ·own feasts cause their ruin [L table be a snare before them]; ·let their feasts trap them and pay them back [or a trap for their friends].
69:23 Let their eyes be ·closed [L darkened] so they cannot see and their ·backs [L loins] ·be forever weak from troubles [L tremble all the time].
69:24 Pour your ·anger [wrath] out on them; let your anger ·catch up with [overtake] them.
69:25 May their ·place [camp] be ·empty [desolate]; leave no one to live in their tents.
69:26 They ·chase after [persecute; pursue] those you have ·hurt [struck], and they talk about the pain of those you have wounded.
69:27 Charge them with ·crime after crime [L guilt on guilt], and do not ·let them have anything good [vindicate them].
69:28 ·Wipe [Blot] their names from the book of life [C kill them], and do not ·list them [write them down] with those who ·do what is right [are righteous].
69:29 I am ·sad [afflicted] and ·hurting [in pain]. God, ·save me [give me victory] and ·protect me [give me refuge].
69:30 I will praise ·God [L the name of God] in a song and will ·honor [magnify] him by giving thanks.
69:31 That will please the Lord more than ·offering him cattle [L an ox], more than sacrificing a bull with horns and hoofs.
69:32 Poor people will see this and be glad [C offering an ox or bull is expensive]. ·Be encouraged, you who worship God [The hearts of those who seek God will be enlivened].
69:33 The Lord listens to those in need and does not ·look down on [despise] ·captives [prisoners].
69:34 Heaven and earth should praise him, the seas and ·everything in them [L all that swarms in them].
69:35 God will ·save Jerusalem [L give Zion victory; C the location of the Temple] and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will live there and own the land.
69:36 The ·descendants [L seed] of his servants will inherit that land, and those who love ·him [L his name] will live there.
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