¶ To the chanter upon Sosanim of David. Help me, O God, for the waters are come in, even unto my soul. I stick fast in the deep mire, where no ground is, I am come into deep waters, and the floods will drown me. I am weary of crying, my throat is dry, my sight faileth me, for waiting so long upon my God. They that hate me without a cause, are more than the hairs of my head, they that are mine enemies and would destroy me guiltless are mighty: I am fain to pay the things that I never took. God thou knowest my simpleness, and my faults are not hid from thee. Let not them that trust in thee, O Lord GOD of Hosts, be ashamed for my cause: let not those that seek thee, be confounded thorow me, O God of Israel. And why? for thy sake do I suffer reproof, shame covereth my face. I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children. For the zeal of thine house hath even eaten me, and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee, is fallen upon me. I wept and chastened myself with fasting, and that was turned to my reproof. I put on a sackcloth, and therefore they jested upon me. They that sat in the gate, spake against me, and the drunkards made songs upon me.
¶ But LORD I made my prayer unto thee in an acceptable time. Hear me, O God, with thy great mercy and sure help. Take me out of the mire, that I sink not: Oh let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Lest the water flood drown me, that the deep swallow me not up, and that the pit shut not her mouth upon me. Hear me, O LORD, for thy loving kindness is comfortable: turn thee unto me according unto thy great mercy. Hide not thy face from thy servant, for I am in trouble: O haste thee to help me. Draw nye unto my soul, and save it: Oh deliver me because of mine enemies. Thou knowest my reproof, and my shame and my dishonor: mine adversaries are all in thy sight. The rebuke breaketh my heart, and maketh me heavy: I look for some to have pity upon me, but there is no man: and for some to comfort me, but I find none. They gave me gall to eat, and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.
¶ Let their table be made a snare to take themselves withal, an occasion to fall and a reward unto them. Let their eyes be blinded, that they see not: and ever bow down their backs. Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful displeasure take hold of them. Let their habitation be void, and no man to dwell in their tents. For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten, and beside thy wounds they have given him more. Let them fall from one wickedness to another, and not come into thy righteousness. Let them be wiped out of the book of the living, and not be written among the righteous. As for me, I am poor and in heaviness, let thy help defend me, O God.
¶ That I may praise the name of God with a song, and magnify it with thanksgiving. This shall please the LORD better than a bullock, that hath horns and hoofs. O consider this and be glad (ye that be in adversity) seek after God and your soul shall live. For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, the sea, and all that moveth therein. For God will save Sion, and build the cities of Iudah, that men may dwell there, and have them in possession. The seed of his servants shall inherit it, and they that love his name shall dwell therein.