Verse 1
"To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David."
To the chief Musician — the director of music who leads the singing in the Temple. Upon Shoshannim — a musical instruction meaning "upon lilies," the name of a melody or a six-stringed instrument on which the psalm was sung. A Psalm of David — David's psalm.
Verse 10
"For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me."
The burning zeal for the honor of Your house has eaten and consumed my strength; love for the place of the LORD burns within me. And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me — the scorn aimed at You, I bear it.
Verse 11
"When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach."
I wept and afflicted my soul with fasting before the LORD. And the fast itself became a reproach to me; that pure service they mocked.
Verse 12
"I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them."
I made the sackcloth my clothing; sackcloth is the coarse cloth of mourners, a sign of grief. And I became to them a byword — a synonym for contempt.
Verse 13
"They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards."
Those who sit in the gate — the elders and judges who sat in the city gate to judge — gossip about me. And I am the mocking song of drinkers of strong drink: the drunkards who sing of me over their intoxicating liquor.
Verse 14
"But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation."
All of me is prayer to You. An acceptable time — a time of favor when prayer is received before You. In the multitude of thy mercy — out of the abundance of Your kindness. Answer me in true deliverance.
Verse 15
"Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters."
Draw me from the mire — the sticky mud that grips the feet — and let me not sink and drown. Rescue me from those who hate me, from the watery depths.
Verse 16
"Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me."
Let not the sweeping current wash me away; the flood here is a raging torrent, not an ear of grain. And let not the deep swallow me — the abyss with no floor. And let not the pit close its mouth upon me; the pit is the well, and to shut means to seal it — the grave closing over the drowning.
Verse 17
"Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies."
Answer me, for Your kindness is good and does good. According to the abundance of Your mercies — the tender, compassionate ones — turn toward me and watch over me.
Verse 18
"And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily."
Do not hide Your face from Your servant; do not conceal Your watchful care. For I am in distress, in trouble and anguish — hasten, answer me.