Study Desk

For the director of music. To the tune of "Lilies." Of David.

Save me, O God, for the waters^(a) have come up to my neck.^(b)

I sink in the miry depths,^(c) where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.

I am worn out calling for help;^(d) my throat is parched. My eyes fail,^(e) looking for my God.

Those who hate me^(f) without reason^(g) outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause,^(h) those who seek to destroy me.⁽ⁱ⁾ I am forced to restore what I did not steal.

You, God, know my folly;^(j) my guilt is not hidden from you.^(k)

Lord, the Lord Almighty, may those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me; God of Israel, may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me.

For I endure scorn^(l) for your sake,^(m) and shame covers my face.⁽ⁿ⁾

I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother's children;^(o)

for zeal for your house consumes me,^(p) and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.^(q)

When I weep and fast,^(r) I must endure scorn;

when I put on sackcloth,^(s) people make sport of me.

Those who sit at the gate^(t) mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards.^(u)

But I pray to you, Lord , in the time of your favor;^(v) in your great love,^(w) O God, answer me with your sure salvation.

Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters.^(x)

Do not let the floodwaters^(y) engulf me or the depths swallow me up^(z) or the pit close its mouth over me.^(aa)

Answer me, Lord , out of the goodness of your love;^(ab) in your great mercy turn to me.

Do not hide your face^(ac) from your servant; answer me quickly,^(ad) for I am in trouble.^(ae)

Come near and rescue me; deliver^(af) me because of my foes.

You know how I am scorned,^(ag) disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.

Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters,^(ah) but I found none.^(ai)

They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar^(aj) for my thirst.^(ak)

May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and^[b] a trap.^(al)

May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.^(am)

Pour out your wrath^(an) on them; let your fierce anger overtake them.

May their place be deserted;^(ao) let there be no one to dwell in their tents.^(ap)

For they persecute those you wound and talk about the pain of those you hurt.^(aq)

Charge them with crime upon crime;^(ar) do not let them share in your salvation.^(as)

May they be blotted out of the book of life^(at) and not be listed with the righteous.^(au)

But as for me, afflicted and in pain— may your salvation, God, protect me.^(av)

I will praise God's name in song^(aw) and glorify him^(ax) with thanksgiving.

This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.^(ay)

The poor will see and be glad^(az)— you who seek God, may your hearts live!^(ba)

The Lord hears the needy^(bb) and does not despise his captive people.

Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,^(bc)

for God will save Zion^(bd) and rebuild the cities of Judah.^(be) Then people will settle there and possess it;

the children of his servants will inherit it,^(bf) and those who love his name will dwell there.^(bg)

For the director of music. Of David. A petition.

Hasten, O God, to save me; come quickly, Lord , to help me.^(b)

May those who want to take my life^(c) be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.^(d)

May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"^(e) turn back because of their shame.

But may all who seek you^(f) rejoice and be glad^(g) in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, "The Lord is great!"^(h)

But as for me, I am poor and needy;⁽ⁱ⁾ come quickly to me,^(j) O God. You are my help^(k) and my deliverer;^(l) Lord , do not delay.^(m)

In you, Lord , I have taken refuge;^(b) let me never be put to shame.^(c)

In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear^(d) to me and save me.

Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.^(e)

Deliver^(f) me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,^(g) from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.^(h)

For you have been my hope,⁽ⁱ⁾ Sovereign Lord , my confidence^(j) since my youth.

From birth^(k) I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb.^(l) I will ever praise^(m) you.

I have become a sign⁽ⁿ⁾ to many; you are my strong refuge.^(o)

My mouth^(p) is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor^(q) all day long.

Do not cast^(r) me away when I am old;^(s) do not forsake^(t) me when my strength is gone.

For my enemies^(u) speak against me; those who wait to kill^(v) me conspire^(w) together.

They say, "God has forsaken^(x) him; pursue him and seize him, for no one will rescue^(y) him."

Do not be far^(z) from me, my God; come quickly, God, to help^(aa) me.

May my accusers^(ab) perish in shame;^(ac) may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.^(ad)

As for me, I will always have hope;^(ae) I will praise you more and more.

My mouth will tell^(af) of your righteous deeds,^(ag) of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all.

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts,^(ah) Sovereign Lord ; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

Since my youth, God, you have taught^(ai) me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.^(aj)

Even when I am old and gray,^(ak) do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power^(al) to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.^(am)

Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,^(an) you who have done great things.^(ao) Who is like you, God?^(ap)

Though you have made me see troubles,^(aq) many and bitter, you will restore^(ar) my life again; from the depths of the earth^(as) you will again bring me up.

You will increase my honor^(at) and comfort^(au) me once more.

I will praise you with the harp^(av) for your faithfulness, my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre,^(aw) Holy One of Israel.^(ax)

My lips will shout for joy^(ay) when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered.^(az)

My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long,^(ba) for those who wanted to harm me^(bb) have been put to shame and confusion.^(bc)