A Cry for Help
1 Save me, O God!
The water is up to my neck;
2 I am sinking in deep mud,
and there is no solid ground;
I am out in deep water,
and the waves are about to drown me.
3 I am worn out from calling for help,
and my throat is aching.
I have strained my eyes,
looking for your help.
4 Those who hate me for no reason
are more numerous than the hairs of my head.
My enemies tell lies against me;
they are strong and want to kill me.
They made me give back things I did not steal.
5 My sins, O God, are not hidden from you;
you know how foolish I have been.
6 Don't let me bring shame on those who trust in you,
Sovereign Lord Almighty!
Don't let me bring disgrace to those who worship you,
O God of Israel!
7 It is for your sake that I have been insulted
and that I am covered with shame.
8 I am like a stranger to my relatives,
like a foreigner to my family.
9 My devotion to your Temple burns in me like a fire;
the insults which are hurled at you fall on me.
10 I humble myself by fasting,
and people insult me;
11 I dress myself in clothes of mourning,
and they laugh at me.
12 They talk about me in the streets,
and drunkards make up songs about me.
13 But as for me, I will pray to you, Lord;
answer me, God, at a time you choose.
Answer me because of your great love,
because you keep your promise to save.
14 Save me from sinking in the mud;
keep me safe from my enemies,
safe from the deep water.
15 Don't let the flood come over me;
don't let me drown in the depths
or sink into the grave.
16 Answer me, Lord, in the goodness of your constant love;
in your great compassion turn to me!
17 Don't hide yourself from your servant;
I am in great trouble—answer me now!
18 Come to me and save me;
rescue me from my enemies.
19 You know how I am insulted,
how I am disgraced and dishonored;
you see all my enemies.
20 Insults have broken my heart,
and I am in despair.
I had hoped for sympathy, but there was none;
for comfort, but I found none.
21 When I was hungry, they gave me poison;
when I was thirsty, they offered me vinegar.
22 May their banquets cause their ruin;
may their sacred feasts cause their downfall.
23 Strike them with blindness!
Make their backs always weak!
24 Pour out your anger on them;
let your indignation overtake them.
25 May their camps be left deserted;
may no one be left alive in their tents.
26 They persecute those whom you have punished;
they talk about the sufferings of those you have wounded.
27 Keep a record of all their sins;
don't let them have any part in your salvation.
28 May their names be erased from the book of the living;
may they not be included in the list of your people.
29 But I am in pain and despair;
lift me up, O God, and save me!
30 I will praise God with a song;
I will proclaim his greatness by giving him thanks.
31 This will please the Lord more than offering him cattle,
more than sacrificing a full-grown bull.
32 When the oppressed see this, they will be glad;
those who worship God will be encouraged.
33 The Lord listens to those in need
and does not forget his people in prison.
34 Praise God, O heaven and earth,
seas and all creatures in them.
35 He will save Jerusalem
and rebuild the towns of Judah.
His people will live there and possess the land;
36 the descendants of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love him will live there.
Lūgšana ciešanu laikā
1 Dziedātāju vadonim. Pēc meldijas "Lilijas". Dāvida dziesma. 2 Palīdzi man, ak, Dievs, jo ūdeņi apdraud manu dzīvību! 3 Es grimstu dziļās dūņās, kur nav pamata; es esmu iekļuvis ūdens dziļumos, un ūdens straume draud mani aizskalot projām. 4 Es esmu piekusis kliedzot, mana rīkle ir aizsmakusi, manas acis ir izdzisušas, gaidīdamas uz manu Dievu. 5 Vairāk nekā matu uz manas galvas ir to, kas mani bez vainas ienīst; stipri ir tie, kas mani grib iznīcināt un man netaisni uzbrūk; ko es nemaz neesmu nolaupījis, tas man jāatlīdzina. 6 Dievs, Tu gan zini manas aplamības, un mani pārkāpumi nav Tev apslēpti. 7 Lai manis dēļ nekrīt kaunā tie, kas uz Tevi cer, ak, Dievs, ak, Kungs Cebaot! Lai manis dēļ nesarkst aiz kauna tie, kas Tevi meklē, Israēla Dievs! 8 Jo Tevis dēļ es nesu negodu, Tevis dēļ manu vaigu klāj kauns. 9 Es esmu kļuvis svešs saviem brāļiem un svešinieks savas mātes bērniem. 10 Jo dedzība Tava nama labad mani ir ēdusi un Tavu zaimotāju zaimi ir krituši uz mani. 11 Ja es raudāju un gavēdams šķīstīju savu dvēseli, tad tas kļuva man par apsmieklu. 12 Es uzvilku sev par sēru apģērbu maisu, bet es kļuvu viņiem par zobgalīgu sakāmvārdu. 13 Par mani tenko tie, kas sēž vārtos, par mani dzied vīna dzērēji. 14 Bet es Tevi lūdzu, Kungs, laikā, kad Tev tas labpatiktu; ak, Dievs, uzklausi mani Savā lielajā žēlastībā, Savā uzticīgajā palīdzībā! 15 Izvelc mani no dūņām, lai es nenogrimstu, izglāb mani no nīdētājiem un no ūdens dziļumiem, 16 lai ūdens viļņi mani neapklāj, lai mani neaprij ūdens virpuļi un lai atvari pār mani neaizdara savu muti. 17 Paklausi mani, Kungs, jo dārga ir Tava žēlastība; griezies pie manis Savā lielajā žēlsirdībā, 18 neapslēp Savu vaigu Savam kalpam, jo man ir bailes, paklausi mani drīz! 19 Tuvojies manai dvēselei, atpestī to, izglāb mani manu ienaidnieku dēļ! 20 Tu zini manu kaunu un manu negodu, un manu apsmieklu; visi mani ienaidnieki ir Tavā priekšā. 21 Kauns man lauž sirdi, es izsamistu un nīkstu; es cerēju uz līdzjūtību, bet velti, un uz mierinātāju, bet to neatrodu. 22 Taisni otrādi - viņi man deva ēst žulti, un, kad es biju izslāpis, viņi mani dzirdināja ar etiķi. 23 Lai viņu galds kļūst viņiem par cilpu un viņu upuru mielasts par slazdu! 24 Lai viņu acis tiek aptumšotas, ka viņi neredz, un lai viņu gurni vienmēr ļodzās! 25 Izgāz pār viņiem Savu bardzību, un lai viņus ķer Tavu dusmu kvēle! 26 Viņu nometnes lai top par kailu tukšumu, viņu teltīs lai neviens nedzīvo, 27 jo viņi vajā to, ko Tu esi sitis, un vairo tā sāpes, ko Tu esi ievainojis. 28 Lai tiem krājas noziegums pie nozieguma, ka viņi netiek pie Tavas taisnības! 29 Lai viņi tiek izdzēsti no dzīvības grāmatas, lai viņus nepieraksta pie taisnajiem! 30 Bet es esmu nonīcis un pilns sāpju, Tava palīdzība, ak, Dievs, lai mani uztur! 31 Es slavēšu Dieva Vārdu ar dziesmu un godināšu Viņu ar pateicību. 32 Tas Tam Kungam patiks labāk nekā liellopi, nekā vērsis ar ragiem un šķeltiem nagiem. 33 Skatieties, jūs pazemīgie, un priecājieties, jūs Dieva meklētāji! Lai atspirgst jūsu sirds, 34 jo Tas Kungs uzklausa nabagus un nenicina Savus sagūstītos. 35 Lai Viņu slavē debess un zeme, jūras un viss, kas tur kustas! 36 Un taču Dievs atpestīs Ciānu un uzcels Jūdas pilsētas, lai tās ļaudīm kļūst par mājvietu un īpašumu. 37 Un Viņa kalpu dzimums tās iemantos, un, kas Viņa Vārdu mīl, tie tur dzīvos.
