Psalm 69

A Plea for Rescue

For the choir director: according to “The Lilies.”(A) Of David.

Save me, God,
for the water has risen to my neck.(B)
I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing;
I have come into deep water,
and a flood sweeps over me.(C)
I am weary from my crying;
my throat is parched.
My eyes fail, looking for my God.(D)
Those who hate me without cause
are more numerous than the hairs of my head;
my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me,
are powerful.(E)
Though I did not steal, I must repay.(F)

God, you know my foolishness,
and my guilty acts are not hidden from you.(G)
Do not let those who put their hope in you
be disgraced because of me,
Lord God of Armies;
do not let those who seek you
be humiliated because of me,
God of Israel.(H)
For I have endured insults because of you,
and shame has covered my face.(I)
I have become a stranger to my brothers
and a foreigner to my mother’s sons(J)
because zeal for your house has consumed me,(K)
and the insults of those who insult you
have fallen on me.(L)
10 I mourned and fasted,
but it brought me insults.(M)
11 I wore sackcloth as my clothing,
and I was a joke to them.
12 Those who sit at the city gate talk about me,
and drunkards make up songs about me.(N)

13 But as for me, Lord,
my prayer to you is for a time of favor.
In your abundant, faithful love, God,
answer me with your sure salvation.(O)
14 Rescue me from the miry mud; don’t let me sink.
Let me be rescued from those who hate me
and from the deep water.(P)
15 Don’t let the floodwaters sweep over me
or the deep swallow me up;
don’t let the Pit close its mouth over me.(Q)
16 Answer me, Lord,
for your faithful love is good.
In keeping with your abundant compassion,
turn to me.(R)
17 Don’t hide your face from your servant,
for I am in distress.
Answer me quickly!(S)
18 Come near to me and redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies.(T)

19 You know the insults I endure—
my shame and disgrace.
You are aware of all my adversaries.(U)
20 Insults have broken my heart,
and I am in despair.
I waited for sympathy,
but there was none;
for comforters, but found no one.(V)
21 Instead, they gave me gall for my food,
and for my thirst
they gave me vinegar to drink.(W)

22 Let their table set before them be a snare,
and let it be a trap for their allies.(X)
23 Let their eyes grow too dim to see,
and let their hips continually quake.(Y)
24 Pour out your rage on them,
and let your burning anger overtake them.(Z)
25 Make their fortification desolate;
may no one live in their tents.(AA)
26 For they persecute the one you struck
and talk about the pain of those you wounded.(AB)
27 Charge them with crime on top of crime;
do not let them share in your righteousness.(AC)
28 Let them be erased from the book of life
and not be recorded with the righteous.(AD)

29 But as for me—poor and in pain—
let your salvation protect me, God.(AE)
30 I will praise God’s name with song
and exalt him with thanksgiving.(AF)
31 That will please the Lord more than an ox,
more than a bull with horns and hooves.(AG)
32 The humble will see it and rejoice.
You who seek God, take heart!(AH)
33 For the Lord listens to the needy
and does not despise
his own who are prisoners.(AI)

34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them,(AJ)
35 for God will save Zion
and build up[a] the cities of Judah.
They will live there and possess it.(AK)
36 The descendants of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love his name will live in it.(AL)

Footnotes

  1. 69:35 Or and rebuild

Fear God

“I say to you, my friends,(A) don’t fear(B) those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the one to fear: Fear(C) him who has authority to throw people into hell(D) after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?[a] Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight.(E) Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

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Footnotes

  1. 12:6 Lit two assaria; a small copper coin

From Jerusalem to Illyricum

14 My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness,(A) filled with all knowledge,(B) and able to instruct one another. 15 Nevertheless, I have written to remind you more boldly on some points[a] because of the grace given me by God(C) 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles,(D) serving as a priest of the gospel of God.(E) God’s purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering,(F) sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus(G) regarding what pertains to God.(H) 18 For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me(I) by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, 19 by the power of miraculous signs and wonders,(J) and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem(K) all the way around to Illyricum.[b](L) 20 My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named,(M) so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation,(N) 21 but, as it is written,

Those who were not told about him will see,
and those who have not heard will understand.[c](O)

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Footnotes

  1. 15:15 Other mss add brothers
  2. 15:19 A Roman province northwest of Greece on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea
  3. 15:21 Is 52:15

Christian Warfare

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.(A) 11 Put on(B) the full armor(C) of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh(D) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,(E) against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil,(F) spiritual forces in the heavens.(G) 13 For this reason take up the full armor(H) of God, so that you may be able to resist(I) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand,(J) therefore, with truth(K) like a belt around your waist, righteousness(L) like armor on your chest,(M) 15 and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In every situation take up the shield(N) of faith(O) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(P) 17 Take the helmet(Q) of salvation and the sword(R) of the Spirit(S)—which is the word of God. 18 Pray(T) at all times in the Spirit(U) with every prayer and request, and stay alert(V) with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness(W) the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador(X) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

Paul’s Farewell

21 Tychicus,(Y) our dearly loved brother and faithful servant[a] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage(Z) your hearts.(AA)

23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father(AB) and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.[b][c]

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Footnotes

  1. 6:21 Or deacon
  2. 6:24 Other mss add Amen.
  3. 6:24 Lit all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption

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