Psalms 109
1 For the music director. A psalm of David. God, the one I praise, please don't remain silent,
For the leader. Of David, a psalm. O God whom I praise, keep not silence;
2 because wicked and deceitful people are attacking me, telling lies about me.
for their wicked mouths they have opened against me, they speak to me with tongues that are false,
3 They surround me with words of hate, fighting against me for no reason.
they beset me with words of hatred, and fight without cause against me.
4 I love them, but they respond with hostility towards me, even while I'm praying for them!
My love they requite with hostility, while for them I lift up my prayer.
5 They pay me back with evil instead of good, with hatred instead of love.
Evil for good they reward me, and hatred for my love.
6 “Appoint someone wicked over him. Have someone stand as an accuser against him.
‘Set over him one who is godless,’ they say, ‘an opponent at his right hand.
7 When he is judged and sentenced, may he be found guilty. Let his prayers be counted as sins.
From his trial let him come forth guilty, may his prayer be counted as sin.
8 May his life be short; let someone else take over his position.
Grant that his days may be few, that his office be seized by another.
9 May his children be left fatherless, and his wife become a widow.
Grant that his children be fatherless, and that his wife be a widow.
10 May his children be homeless, wandering beggars, driven from their ruined houses.
Up and down may his children go begging, expelled from their desolate home.
11 May creditors seize all that he owns; may strangers take all that he worked for.
May all that he owns be seized by the creditor may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil.
12 May no one be kind to him; may no one take pity on his fatherless children.
‘May none extend to him kindness, or pity his fatherless children.
13 May his descendants die; may his family name be wiped out in the next generation.
His descendants be doomed to destruction! Blotted out be his name in one generation!
14 May the Lord be reminded of the sins of his fathers; may his mother's sins not be blotted out.
May his father’s guilt be remembered, and his mother’s sin not blotted out:
15 May their sins be constantly before the Lord; may his name be totally forgotten by people.
on record always before the Lord, and his memory root from the earth;
16 For he didn't think to be kind to others, instead he harassed and killed the poor, the needy, the brokenhearted.
for he gave no thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and the needy, drove the downhearted to death.
17 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.
‘May the curses he loved light upon him, may the blessings he loathed be afar.
18 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.
Like a garment he clothed him with curses; may they pierce to his inwards like water, and cling to his bones like oil.
19 May his curses stick to him like clothing, may they be pulled tight around him like a belt.”
Let them be like the robe he wraps round him, like the belt he wears every day.’
20 May all this be the punishment of the Lord on my enemies, on those who speak evil of me.
Be this the reward of my adversaries, of those who speak evil against me.
21 But treat me well, Lord God, because of your own reputation. Save me because you are faithful and good.
But you, Lord my God, be true to your name, deal kindly with me; in your gracious kindness save me.
22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is breaking.
For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
23 I am fading away like an evening shadow; I am like a locust that is shaken off.
I am gone like a lengthening shadow, I am shaken off like a locust.
24 I am so weak from lack of food that my legs give way; my body is just skin and bones.
My knees totter from fasting, my flesh is shrivelled and spare.
25 People ridicule me—they look at me and shake their heads!
They heap insults upon me: when they see me, they shake their head.
26 Help me, Lord my God; save me because of your trustworthy love.
Help me, O Lord my God, and save me in your kindness.
27 May they recognize that this is what you are doing—that you are the one who saves me.
Teach them that this is your hand, and your own doing, O Lord.
28 When they curse me, you will bless me. When they attack me, you will defeat them. And I, your servant, will be happy.
Let them curse, if only you bless. Put my assailants to shame, and make your servant glad.
29 May those who accuse me be clothed with disgrace; may they cover themselves with a cloak of shame.
My opponents be clothed with dishonour, and wrapped in a robe of shame.
30 But I will keep on thanking the Lord, praising him to everyone around me.
I give thanks to you, Lord, with loud voice, I give praise in the midst of the throng;
31 For he takes a stand to defend the needy, to save them from those who condemn them.
for he stands by the poor, at his right hand, to save them from those who condemn them.
