Psalms 109
1 To the chief music-maker. Of David. A Psalm. God of my praise, let my prayer be answered;
For the music director. A psalm of David. God, the one I praise, please don't remain silent,
2 For the mouth of the sinner is open against me in deceit: his tongue has said false things against me.
because wicked and deceitful people are attacking me, telling lies about me.
3 Words of hate are round about me; they have made war against me without cause.
They surround me with words of hate, fighting against me for no reason.
4 For my love they give me back hate; but I have given myself to prayer.
I love them, but they respond with hostility towards me, even while I'm praying for them!
5 They have put on me evil for good; hate in exchange for my love.
They pay me back with evil instead of good, with hatred instead of love.
6 Put an evil man over him; and let one be placed at his right hand to say evil of him.
“Appoint someone wicked over him. Have someone stand as an accuser against him.
7 When he is judged, let the decision go against him; and may his prayer become sin.
When he is judged and sentenced, may he be found guilty. Let his prayers be counted as sins.
8 Let his life be short; let another take his position of authority.
May his life be short; let someone else take over his position.
9 Let his children have no father, and his wife be made a widow.
May his children be left fatherless, and his wife become a widow.
10 Let his children be wanderers, looking to others for their food; let them be sent away from the company of their friends.
May his children be homeless, wandering beggars, driven from their ruined houses.
11 Let his creditor take all his goods; and let others have the profit of his work.
May creditors seize all that he owns; may strangers take all that he worked for.
12 Let no man have pity on him, or give help to his children when he is dead.
May no one be kind to him; may no one take pity on his fatherless children.
13 Let his seed be cut off; in the coming generation let their name go out of memory.
May his descendants die; may his family name be wiped out in the next generation.
14 Let the Lord keep in mind the wrongdoing of his fathers; and may the sin of his mother have no forgiveness.
May the Lord be reminded of the sins of his fathers; may his mother's sins not be blotted out.
15 Let them be ever before the eyes of the Lord, so that the memory of them may be cut off from the earth.
May their sins be constantly before the Lord; may his name be totally forgotten by people.
16 Because he had no mercy, but was cruel to the low and the poor, designing the death of the broken-hearted.
For he didn't think to be kind to others, instead he harassed and killed the poor, the needy, the brokenhearted.
17 As he took pleasure in cursing, so let it come on him; and as he had no delight in blessing, let it be far from him.
He loved to put a curse on others—let it come back on him. He had no time for blessings—so may he never receive any.
18 He put on cursing like a robe, and it has come into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.
He cursed as often as he got dressed. May his curses go into him like the water he drinks, like the olive oil he rubs on his skin that enters his bones.
19 Let it be to him as a robe which he puts on, let it be like a band which is round him at all times.
May his curses stick to him like clothing, may they be pulled tight around him like a belt.”
20 Let this be the reward given to my haters from the Lord, and to those who say evil of my soul.
May all this be the punishment of the Lord on my enemies, on those who speak evil of me.
21 But, O Lord God, give me your help, because of your name; take me out of danger, because your mercy is good.
But treat me well, Lord God, because of your own reputation. Save me because you are faithful and good.
22 For I am poor and in need, and my heart is wounded in me.
For I am poor and needy, and my heart is breaking.
23 I am gone like the shade when it is stretched out: I am forced out of my place like a locust.
I am fading away like an evening shadow; I am like a locust that is shaken off.
24 My knees are feeble for need of food; there is no fat on my bones.
I am so weak from lack of food that my legs give way; my body is just skin and bones.
25 As for me, they make sport of me; shaking their heads when they see me.
People ridicule me—they look at me and shake their heads!
26 Give me help, O Lord my God; in your mercy be my saviour;
Help me, Lord my God; save me because of your trustworthy love.
27 So that they may see that it is the work of your hand; that you, Lord, have done it.
May they recognize that this is what you are doing—that you are the one who saves me.
28 They may give curses but you give blessing; when they come up against me, put them to shame; but let your servant be glad.
When they curse me, you will bless me. When they attack me, you will defeat them. And I, your servant, will be happy.
29 Let my haters be clothed with shame, covering themselves with shame as with a robe.
May those who accuse me be clothed with disgrace; may they cover themselves with a cloak of shame.
30 I will give the Lord great praise with my mouth; yes, I will give praise to him among all the people.
But I will keep on thanking the Lord, praising him to everyone around me.
31 For he is ever at the right hand of the poor, to take him out of the hands of those who go after his soul.
For he takes a stand to defend the needy, to save them from those who condemn them.
