The Waters Are up to My Neck 1 UST Please rescue me, God! I am in great danger, as if I were just about to drown in a flood. BSB BSB: For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.
2 UST It is as if I am sinking in deep mud where there is no solid ground for me to stand on. It is as if I am in deep water and a flood is swirling around me. BSB BSB: I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me.
3 UST I am tired and my throat is dry because I have been calling to you for help for so long. I have been looking for so long for you to come and help me that I have worn out my eyes. BSB BSB: I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
4 UST There are people who hate me for no reason. There are so many of these people, it is as if there are more of them than there are hairs on my head! The enemies who want to harm me are powerful, and they are telling lies about me. They are demanding that I pay back things that I did not steal! BSB BSB: 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 UST O God, you know that I have foolishly disobeyed your laws; you are aware of the sins that I have committed. BSB BSB: You know my folly, O God, and my guilt is not hidden from You.
6 UST But Yahweh my Lord, commander of the heavenly armies, may the wrong things I have done not disappoint the people who trust you. You are the God whom we Israelite people should worship. Please do not let me embarrass those who do worship you. BSB BSB: 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 UST People have insulted me because I am loyal to you. They have thoroughly humiliated me. BSB BSB: For I have endured scorn for Your sake, and shame has covered my face.
8 UST Even my own family members act as if they do not know me. BSB BSB: I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons,
9 UST I care so much about your temple that people are causing trouble for me. People are speaking disrespectfully of you, and it is as if they are also insulting me. BSB BSB: because zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.
10 UST I wept and fasted very sincerely, but they mocked me for doing that. BSB BSB: I wept and fasted, but it brought me reproach.
11 UST I wore rough clothing{ to show that I was sad}, but they used me as an example of a foolish person. BSB BSB: I made sackcloth my clothing, and I was sport to them.
12 UST Even the elders of the city say bad things about me. The drunkards in the city sing insulting songs about me. BSB BSB: Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of drunkards.
13 UST But I will continue praying to you, Yahweh. You are always very kind to me, as you have promised. So at the time that you choose, please answer my prayer by rescuing me, since you love me faithfully. BSB BSB: 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 UST Rescue me so that it will no longer be as if I were sinking in mud. Rescue me from my enemies so that it will no longer be as if I were drowning. BSB BSB: Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters.
15 UST Make it so that it will no longer be as if a flood were swirling around me and I was about to go down to the bottom of deep water. Rescue me so that I do not go to the place where dead people are. BSB BSB: Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me.
16 UST Yahweh, it is so good that you faithfully love me, so please do what I ask. Because you are very merciful, please help me. BSB BSB: Answer me, O LORD, for Your loving devotion is good; turn to me in keeping with Your great compassion.
17 UST I am experiencing much trouble, so please consider my situation and act quickly to help me. BSB BSB: Hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!
18 UST Come and save me; please rescue me from my enemies. BSB BSB: Draw near to my soul and redeem me; ransom me because of my foes.
19 UST You know personally how people are insulting, shaming, and dishonoring me. You know who all my enemies are. BSB BSB: You know my reproach, my shame and disgrace. All my adversaries are before You.
20 UST Their insults have deeply offended me, and I feel very badly. I wanted someone to feel sorry for me and encourage me, but no one did. BSB BSB: 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 UST Instead, they put poison in my food, and when I was thirsty, they gave me sour wine to drink. BSB BSB: They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.
22 UST May their own food be like a trap that they walk into! May it harm their health. BSB BSB: May their table become a snare; may it be a retribution and a trap.
23 UST May their eyes become dim so that they cannot see anything. May their bodies keep getting weaker. BSB BSB: May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.
24 UST Become angry with them and punish them! Angrily pursue them until you catch them. BSB BSB: Pour out Your wrath upon them, and let Your burning anger overtake them.
25 UST Make them abandon their towns so that no one lives in them anymore. BSB BSB: May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.
26 UST Do this because they did things to harm people whom you were already disciplining. They said that people whom you were correcting were suffering{ because they had done bad things}. BSB BSB: For they persecute the one You struck and recount the pain of those You wounded.
27 UST Punish them for every wrong thing they have done. Do not forgive them! BSB BSB: Add iniquity to their iniquity; let them not share in Your righteousness.
28 UST Remove their names from the book that records the names of people who have everlasting life; do not include them in your list of righteous people. BSB BSB: May they be blotted out of the Book of Life and not listed with the righteous.
29 UST As for me, I am in bad circumstances, and I am suffering. O God, please protect me and save me. BSB BSB: But I am in pain and distress; let Your salvation protect me, O God.
30 UST When God does that, I will sing a song to praise God, and I will honor him by thanking him. BSB BSB: I will praise God’s name in song and exalt Him with thanksgiving.
31 UST When I do that, it will please Yahweh more than if I had sacrificed oxen, yes, he will like that better than if I had offered him full- grown bulls. BSB BSB: And this will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves.
32 UST Humble people will be happy when they see{ that God has rescued me}. This will encourage people who worship God sincerely. BSB BSB: The humble will see and rejoice. You who seek God, let your hearts be revived!
33 UST When needy people pray to Yahweh, he does what they ask. He greatly respects people who suffer for him. BSB BSB: For the LORD listens to the needy and does not despise His captive people.
34 UST May the entire creation praise God: the birds in the sky, the animals on the land, and the creatures in the sea. BSB BSB: Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.
35 UST May God protect the people who live in Jerusalem and in other places in Judah. May he strengthen their cities so that they keep living in them as their territory. BSB BSB: For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.
36 UST May the descendants of the people who are loyal to him inherit that territory, and may those who love him live there safely. BSB BSB: The descendants of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will settle in it.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.