Bible in Basic English
Come near to my soul, for its salvation: be my saviour, because of those who are against me.
You have seen my shame, how I was laughed at and made low; my haters are all before you.
My heart is broken by bitter words, I am full of grief; I made a search for some to have pity on me, but there was no one; I had no comforter.
They gave me poison for my food; and bitter wine for my drink.
Let their table before them be for their destruction; let their feasts become a net to take them.
Let their eyes be blind so that they may not see; let their bodies for ever be shaking.
Let your curse come on them; let the heat of your wrath overtake them.
Give their houses to destruction, and let there be no one in their tents.
Because they are cruel to him against whom your hand is turned; they make bitter the grief of him who is wounded by you.
Let their punishment be increased; let them not come into your righteousness.
Let their names be taken from the book of the living, let them not be numbered with the upright.
But I am poor and full of sorrow; let me be lifted up by your salvation, O Lord.
I will give praise to the name of God with a song; I will give glory to him for what he has done.
This will be more pleasing to the Lord than an ox, or a young ox of full growth.
The poor will see it and be glad: you who are lovers of God, let your hearts have life.
For the ears of the Lord are open to the poor, and he takes thought for his prisoners.
Let the heavens and the earth give praise to him, the seas, and everything moving in them.
For God will be the saviour of Zion, and the builder of the towns of Judah; so that it may be their resting-place and heritage.
The seed of his servants will have their part in it, and there the lovers of his name will have rest.
— Psalms 69:18-1964, Bible in Basic English
“Come near me and redeem me! Because of my enemies, rescue me! You know how I am insulted, humiliated and disgraced; you can see all my enemies. Their insults are painful and make me lose heart; I look for sympathy, but receive none, for comforters, but find none. They put bitter poison into my food, and to quench my thirst they give me vinegar to drink. May their dining table become a trap before them! May it be a snare for that group of friends! May their eyes be blinded! Make them shake violently! Pour out your judgment on them! May your raging anger overtake them! May their camp become desolate, their tents uninhabited! For they harass the one whom you discipline; they spread the news about the suffering of those whom you punish. Hold them accountable for all their sins! Do not vindicate them! May their names be deleted from the scroll of the living! Do not let their names be listed with the godly! I am oppressed and suffering! O God, deliver and protect me! I will sing praises to God’s name! I will magnify him as I give him thanks! That will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hooves. The oppressed look on– let them rejoice! You who seek God, may you be encouraged! For the LORD listens to the needy; he does not despise his captive people. Let the heavens and the earth praise him, along with the seas and everything that swims in them! For God will deliver Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, and his people will again live in them and possess Zion. The descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who are loyal to him will live in it.”
Let me not be covered by the flowing waters; let not the deep waters go over my head, and let me not be shut up in the underworld.
Give an answer to my words, O Lord; for your mercy is good: be turned to me, because of your great pity.
Let not your face be covered from your servant, for I am in trouble; quickly give me an answer.
Come near to my soul, for its salvation: be my saviour, because of those who are against me.
You have seen my shame, how I was laughed at and made low; my haters are all before you.
My heart is broken by bitter words, I am full of grief; I made a search for some to have pity on me, but there was no one; I had no comforter.
They gave me poison for my food; and bitter wine for my drink.
Let their table before them be for their destruction; let their feasts become a net to take them.
Let their eyes be blind so that they may not see; let their bodies for ever be shaking.
Let your curse come on them; let the heat of your wrath overtake them.
Give their houses to destruction, and let there be no one in their tents.
Because they are cruel to him against whom your hand is turned; they make bitter the grief of him who is wounded by you.
Let their punishment be increased; let them not come into your righteousness.
Let their names be taken from the book of the living, let them not be numbered with the upright.
But I am poor and full of sorrow; let me be lifted up by your salvation, O Lord.
I will give praise to the name of God with a song; I will give glory to him for what he has done.
This will be more pleasing to the Lord than an ox, or a young ox of full growth.
The poor will see it and be glad: you who are lovers of God, let your hearts have life.
For the ears of the Lord are open to the poor, and he takes thought for his prisoners.
Let the heavens and the earth give praise to him, the seas, and everything moving in them.
For God will be the saviour of Zion, and the builder of the towns of Judah; so that it may be their resting-place and heritage.
The seed of his servants will have their part in it, and there the lovers of his name will have rest.