Psalms

Chapter 68

Christ in midst of afflictions (as one in dangerous waters) ℣.5 describing the malice of persecutors, and his own true zeal, ℣.14 prayeth his heavenly Father for help. ℣.23 By way of just imprecation foresheweth the severe punishment of his adversaries, ℣.30 his own glorious Resurrection, and prosperous building of his Church. For which he inviteth all creatures to praise God.

1
Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, to David. because waters are entered into my soul.
2
Save me, o God:
3
I stick fast in the mire of the depth: and there is no sure standing. I am come into the depth of the sea: and a tempest hath overwhelmed me.
4
I have laboured crying, my jaws are made hoarse: my eyes have failed, whilst I hope in my God.
5
They are multiplied above the hairs of my head, that hate me without cause. Mine enemies are made strong, that have persecuted me unjustly: then did I pay the things that I took not.
6
O God thou knowest my foolishness: and mine offences are not hid from thee.
7
Let them not be ashamed upon me, which expected thee, o Lord, Lord of hosts. Let them not be confounded upon me that seek thee, o God of Israel.
8
Because for thee have I sustained reproach, confusion hath covered my face.
9
I am become a foreigner to my brethren, and a stranger to the sons of my mother.
10
Because the zeal of thy house hath eaten me: and the reproaches of them that reproached thee, fell upon me.
11
And I covered my soul in fasting: and it was made a reproach to me.
12
And I put hair cloth my garment, & I became a parable to them.
13
They spake against me that sat in the gate; and they sung against me that drank wine.
14
But I, my prayer to thee, o Lord: a time of thy good pleasure, o God. In the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation:
15
Deliver me out of the mire, that I stick not fast: deliver me from them that hate me, and from the depths of waters.
16
Let not the tempest of water drown me, nor the depth swallow me: neither let the pit shut his mouth upon me.
17
Hear me, o Lord, because thy mercy is benign: according to the multitude of thy commiserations have respect to me.
18
And turn not away thy face from thy servant: because I am in tribulation, hear me speedily.
19
Attend to my soul, and deliver it: because of mine enemies deliver me.
20
Thou knowest my reproach & my confusion, & my shame.
21
In thy sight are all they that afflict me, my heart hath looked for reproach and misery. And I expected some body that would be sorry together with me, and there was none: and that would comfort me, and I found not.
22
And they gave gall for my meat: & in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
23
Let their table be made a snare before them, & for retributions, and for a scandal.
24
Let their eyes be darkened that they see not: and make their back crooked always.
25
Pour out thy wrath upon them: and let the fury of thy wrath overtake them.
26
Let their habitation be made desert: and in their tabernacles let there be none to dwell.
27
Because whom thou hast strucken, they have persecuted: and upon the sorrow of my wounds they have added.
28
Add thou iniquity upon their iniquity: and let them not enter into thy justice.
29
Let them be put out of the book of the living: and with the just let them not be written.
30
I am poor and sorrowful: thy salvation, o God, hath received me.
31
I will praise the name of God with canticle: and will magnify him in praise.
32
And it shall please God more than a young calf: that bringeth forth horns and hoofs.
33
Let the poor see and rejoice: seek ye God, and your soul shall live.
34
Because our Lord hath heard the poor: and he hath not despised his prisoners.
35
Let the heavens and earth praise him, the sea, and all the creeping beasts in them.
36
Because God will save Sion: and the cities of Juda shall be built up. And they shall inhabit there, & by inheritance, they shall get it.
37
And the seed of his servants shall possess it, and they that love his name shall dwell in it.