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(By David for the music leader. To the tune “Lilies.”)

God Can Be Trusted

Save me, God!
    I am about to drown.
I am sinking deep in the mud,
    and my feet are slipping.
I am about to be swept under
    by a mighty flood.
I am worn out from crying,
    and my throat is dry.
I have waited for you
    till my eyes are blurred.

(A) There are more people
    who hate me for no reason
than there are hairs
    on my head.
Many terrible enemies
    want to destroy me, God.
Am I supposed to give back
    something I didn't steal?
You know my foolish sins.
    Not one is hidden from you.

Lord God All-Powerful,
    ruler of Israel,
don't let me embarrass anyone
    who trusts and worships you.
It is for your sake alone
that I am insulted
    and blush with shame.
I am like a stranger
    to my relatives
and like a foreigner
    to my own family.

(B) My love for your house
    burns in me like a fire,
and when others insult you,
    they insulted me as well.
10 I cried and went without food,[a]
    but they still insulted me.
11 They sneered at me
for wearing sackcloth[b]
    to show my sorrow.
12 Rulers and judges gossip
    about me,
and drunkards make up songs
    to mock me.

13 But I pray to you, Lord.
    So when the time is right,
answer me and help me
    with your wonderful love.
14 Don't let me sink in the mud,
but save me from my enemies
    and from the deep water.
15 Don't let me be
    swept away by a flood
    or drowned in the ocean
    or swallowed by death.

16 Answer me, Lord!
    You are kind and good.
Pay attention to me!
    You are truly merciful.
17 Don't turn away from me.
I am your servant,
    and I am in trouble.
Please hurry and help!
18 Come and save me
    from my enemies.

19 You know how I am insulted,
    mocked, and disgraced;
you know every one
    of my enemies.
20 I am crushed by insults,
    and I feel sick.
I had hoped for mercy and pity,
    but there was none.
21 (C) Enemies poisoned my food,
and when I was thirsty,
    they gave me vinegar.

22 (D) Make their table a trap
    for them and their friends.
23 Blind them with darkness
    and make them tremble.
24 Show them how angry you are!
    Be furious and catch them.
25 (E) Destroy their camp
and don't let anyone live
    in their tents.

26 They cause trouble for people
    you have already punished;
their gossip hurts those
    you have wounded.
27 Make them guiltier than ever
    and don't forgive them.
28 (F) Wipe their names from the book
    of the living;
remove them from the list
    of the innocent.
29 I am mistreated and in pain.
Protect me, God,
    and keep me safe!

30 I will praise the Lord God
with a song
    and a thankful heart.
31 This will please the Lord
better than offering an ox
    or a full-grown bull.
32 When those in need see this,
    they will be happy,
and the Lord's worshipers
    will be encouraged.
33 The Lord will listen
    when the homeless cry out,
and he will never forget
    his people in prison.

34 Heaven and earth
    will praise our God,
and so will the oceans
    and everything in them.
35 God will rescue Jerusalem,
and he will rebuild
    the towns of Judah.
His people will live there
    on their own land,
36 and when the time comes,
their children will inherit
    the land.
Then everyone who loves God
    will also settle there.

Footnotes

  1. 69.10 went without food: See the note at 35.13.
  2. 69.11 sackcloth: See the note at 30.11.

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