Psalm 68 (Ninth Royal Hour, Holy Friday)
(Psalm 69 – Hebrew Numbering)
Save me, O God, for the waters are come in unto my soul.
I am stuck fast in the mire of the deep, and there is no sure standing.
I am come into the deeps of the sea, and a tempest hath overwhelmed me.
I am grown weary with crying, my throat is become hoarse; from my hoping in my God, mine eyes have failed me.
They that hate me without a cause are multiplied more than the hairs of my head.
Mine enemies are grown strong, they that persecute me unjustly; then did I restore that which I took not away.
O God, Thou knowest my foolishness, and my transgressions are not hid from Thee.
Let not them that wait on Thee be ashamed for my sake, O Lord, Thou Lord of hosts.
Nor let them that seek after Thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel. Because for Thy sake I have borne reproach, shame hath covered my face.
I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto the sons of my mother.
For the zeal of Thy house hath eaten me up, and the reproaches of them that reproach Thee are fallen on me.
Yea, with fasting I covered my soul, and it was turned into a reproach for me.
And I made sackcloth my clothing, and I became a proverb to them.
And they prated against me, they that sit in the gates; and they made a song about me, they that drink wine.
But as for me, with my prayer I cry unto Thee, O Lord; it is time for Thy good pleasure.
O God, in the multitude of Thy mercy hearken unto me, in the truth of Thy salvation.
Save me from the mire, that I be not stuck therein; let me be delivered from them that hate me and from the deeps of the waters.
Let not the tempest of water overwhelm me, nor let the deep swallow me up, nor let the pit shut its mouth upon me.
Hearken unto me, O Lord, for Thy mercy is good; according to the multitude of Thy compassions, look upon me.
Turn not Thy countenance away from Thy servant, for I am afflicted; quickly hearken unto me.
Attend unto my soul and deliver it; because of mine enemies, rescue me.
For Thou knowest my reproach, my shame and my humiliation.
Before Thee are all that afflict me; my soul hath awaited reproach and misery.
And I waited for one that would grieve with me, but there was no one; and for them that would comfort me, but I found none.
And they gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Let their table before them be for a snare, for a recompense and for a stumbling-block.
Let their eyes be darkened that they may not see, and their back do Thou continually bow down.
Pour out upon them Thy wrath, and let the fury of Thy wrath take hold upon them.
Let their habitation be made desolate, and in their tents let there be none to dwell.
For they persecuted him whom Thou hast smitten, and to the pain of my wounds have they added.
Add iniquity to their iniquity, and let them not enter into Thy righteousness.
Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and with the righteous let them not be written.
Poor and in sorrow am I; may Thy salvation, O God, be quick to help me.
I will praise the name of my God with an ode, I will magnify Him with praise.
And this shall please God more than a young calf that hath horns and hooves.
Let beggars behold it and be glad; seek after God, and your soul shall live.
For the Lord hath hearkened unto the poor and hath not despised them that are fettered for His sake.
Let the heavens and the earth praise Him, the sea and all the creeping things therein.
For God will save Zion, and the cities of Judea shall be builded; and they shall dwell therein and inherit it.
And the seed of Thy servants shall possess it, and they that love Thy name shall dwell therein.