Suffering and Prayer

Verse 1

Save me, O God, because the floods do so environ me, that even unto my very soul come in the waters be.

Verse 2

I downward in deep mire do sink, where standing there is none: into deep waters I am come, where floods have o’er me gone.

Verse 3

I weary with my crying am, my throat is also dried; mine eyes do fail, while for my God I waiting do abide.

Verse 4

Those men who do without a cause bear hatred unto me are more in number than the hairs upon my head that be:

Verse 5

Strong are they without a cause me hate and would me slay; and therefore what I never took I forced am to repay.

Verse 6

Lord, thou my folly know’st, my sins not covered are from thee.

Verse 7

Let none that wait on thee be shamed, Lord God of hosts, in me. O thou who God of Israel art, let none that wait on thee confounded be at any time, or made ashamed in me.

Verse 8

For I have borne reproach for thee, my face is hid with shame.

Verse 9

To brethren strange, to mother’s sons an alien I became.

Verse 10

Because the zeal did eat me up which to thine house I bear; and the reproaches cast at thee upon me fallen are.

Verse 11

My tears and fasting mourned my soul, and that was made my shame:

Verse 12

I put on sackcloth and to them a byword I became.

Verse 13

The men that in the gate do sit against me evil spake; they also that vile drunkards were of me their song did make.

Verse 14

But, in a time of favour, Lord, I make my prayer to thee; in truth of thy salvation, Lord, and mercy great, hear me.

Verse 15

Deliver me out of the mire, from sinking do me keep; free me from those that do me hate, and from the waters deep.

Verse 16

Let not the flood o'er me prevail, whose water overflows; nor deep me swallow, nor the pit her mouth upon me close.

Verse 17

Hear me, O Lord, because thy love and kindness is most good; turn unto me, according to thy mercies’ multitude.

Verse 18

Nor from thy servant hide thy face: I’m troubled, soon attend.

Verse 19

Draw near my soul, and it redeem; me from my foes defend.

Verse 20

To thee is my reproach well known, my shame, and my disgrace: those that mine adversaries be are all before thy face.

Verse 21

My heart is broken by reproach, I’m full of grief and pain: for pity and for comforters I looked, but looked in vain.

Verse 22

They also bitter gall did give unto me for my meat: they gave me vinegar to drink, what time my thirst was great.

Verse 23

Before them let their table prove a snare; and do thou make their welfare and prosperity a trap themselves to take.

Verse 24

Let thou their eyes so darkened be, that sight may them forsake; and let their loins be made by thee continually to shake.

Verse 25

Thine anger pour thou out on them, let thy wrath seize them all;

Verse 26

be desolation in their tents, their homes to ruin fall.

Verse 27

Because they persecute the man whom thou didst smite before; and mocking tell the grief of those whom thou hast wounded sore.

Verse 28

Do thou add sin unto their sin, and, for their wickedness, And do not let them come at all into thy righteousness.

Verse 29

Out of the book of life let them be razed and blotted quite; among the righteous and the just their names do thou not write.

Verse 30

But now become exceeding poor and sorrowful am I: by thy salvation, O my God, let me be set on high.