Through the Bible – Day 207

₁Save me, God!

I am about to drown.

₂I am sinking deep in the mud,

and my feet are slipping.

I am about to be swept under

by a mighty flood.

₃I am worn out from crying,

and my throat is dry.

I have waited for you

till my eyes are blurred.

₄There 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?

₅You know my foolish sins.

Not one is hidden from you.

₆LORD God All-Powerful,

ruler of Israel,

don't let me embarrass anyone

who trusts and worships you.

₇It is for your sake alone

that I am insulted

and blush with shame.

₈I am like a stranger

to my relatives

and like a foreigner

to my own family.

₉My love for your house

burns in me like a fire,

and when others insulted you,

they insulted me as well.

₁₀I cried and went without food,

but they still insulted me.

₁₁They sneered at me

for wearing sackcloth

to show my sorrow.

₁₂Rulers and judges gossip

about me,

and drunkards make up songs

to mock me.

₁₃But I pray to you, LORD.

So when the time is right,

answer me and help me

with your wonderful love.

₁₄Don't let me sink in the mud,

but save me from my enemies

and from the deep water.

₁₅Don't let me be

swept away by a flood

or drowned in the ocean

or swallowed by death.

₁₆Answer me, LORD!

You are kind and good.

Pay attention to me!

You are truly merciful.

₁₇Don't turn away from me.

I am your servant,

and I am in trouble.

Please hurry and help!

₁₈Come and save me

from my enemies.

₁₉You know how I am insulted,

mocked, and disgraced;

you know every one

of my enemies.

₂₀I am crushed by insults,

and I feel sick.

I had hoped for mercy and pity,

but there was none.

₂₁Enemies poisoned my food,

and when I was thirsty,

they gave me vinegar.

₂₂Make their table a trap

for them and their friends.

₂₃Blind them with darkness

and make them tremble.

₂₄Show them how angry you are!

Be furious and catch them.

₂₅Destroy their camp

and don't let anyone live

in their tents.

₂₆They cause trouble for people

you have already punished;

their gossip hurts those

you have wounded.

₂₇Make them guiltier than ever

and don't forgive them.

₂₈Wipe their names from the book

of the living;

remove them from the list

of the innocent.

₂₉I am ill-treated and in pain.

Protect me, God,

and keep me safe!

₃₀I will praise the LORD God

with a song

and a thankful heart.

₃₁This will please the LORD

better than offering an ox

or a full-grown bull.

₃₂When those in need see this,

they will be happy,

and the LORD's worshippers

will be encouraged.

₃₃The LORD will listen

when the homeless cry out,

and he will never forget

his people in prison.

₃₄Heaven and earth

will praise our God,

and so will the oceans

and everything in them.

₃₅God will rescue Jerusalem,

and he will rebuild

the towns of Judah.

His people will live there

on their own land,

₃₆and when the time comes,

their children will inherit

the land.

Then everyone who loves God

will also settle there.

₁Save me, LORD God!

Hurry and help.

₂Disappoint and confuse

all who want to kill me.

Turn away and disgrace

all who want to hurt me.

₃Embarrass and shame those

who say, “We told you so!”

₄Let your worshippers celebrate

and be glad because of you.

They love your saving power,

so let them always say,

“God is wonderful!”

₅I am poor and needy,

but you, the LORD God,

care about me.

You are the one who saves me.

Please hurry and help!