Psalms 109
1 For the end, a Psalm of David. For the end, a Psalm of David. O God, pass not over my praise in silence;
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 and the mouth of the crafty [man] have been opened against me: they have spoken against me with a crafty tongue.
because wicked and deceitful people are attacking me, telling lies about me.
3 And they have compassed me with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
They surround me with words of hate, fighting against me for no reason.
4 Instead of loving me, they falsely accused me: but I continued to pray.
I love them, but they respond with hostility towards me, even while I'm praying for them!
5 And they rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
They pay me back with evil instead of good, with hatred instead of love.
6 Set you a sinner against him; and let the devil stand at his right hand.
“Appoint someone wicked over him. Have someone stand as an accuser against him.
7 When he is judged, let him go forth condemned: and let 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 days be few: and let another take his office of overseer.
May his life be short; let someone else take over his position.
9 Let his children be orphans, and his wife a widow.
May his children be left fatherless, and his wife become a widow.
10 Let his children wander without a dwelling-place, and beg: let them be cast out of their habitations.
May his children be homeless, wandering beggars, driven from their ruined houses.
11 Let [his] creditor exact all that belongs to him: and let strangers spoil his labors.
May creditors seize all that he owns; may strangers take all that he worked for.
12 Let him have no helper; neither let there be any one to have compassion on his fatherless children.
May no one be kind to him; may no one take pity on his fatherless children.
13 Let his children be [given up] to utter destruction: in one generation let his name be blotted out.
May his descendants die; may his family name be wiped out in the next generation.
14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
May the Lord be reminded of the sins of his fathers; may his mother's sins not be blotted out.
15 Let them be before the Lord continually; and let their memorial be blotted out from the earth.
May their sins be constantly before the Lord; may his name be totally forgotten by people.
16 Because he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the needy and poor man, and [that] to kill him that was pricked in the heart.
For he didn't think to be kind to others, instead he harassed and killed the poor, the needy, the brokenhearted.
17 He loved cursing also, and it shall come upon him; and he took not pleasure in blessing, so it shall be removed 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 Yes, he put on cursing as a garment, and it is come as water into his bowels, and as oil into his bones.
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 garment which he puts on, and as a girdle with which he girds himself continually.
May his curses stick to him like clothing, may they be pulled tight around him like a belt.”
20 This is the dealing of the Lord with those who falsely accuse me, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
May all this be the punishment of the Lord on my enemies, on those who speak evil of me.
21 But you, O Lord, Lord, deal [mercifully] with me, for your name's sake: for your mercy is good.
But treat me well, Lord God, because of your own reputation. Save me because you are faithful and good.
22 Deliver me, for I am poor and needy; and my heart is troubled within me.
For I am poor and needy, and my heart is breaking.
23 I am removed as a shadow in its going down: I am tossed up and down like locusts.
I am fading away like an evening shadow; I am like a locust that is shaken off.
24 My knees are weakened through fasting, and my flesh is changed by reason of [the lack of] oil.
I am so weak from lack of food that my legs give way; my body is just skin and bones.
25 I became also a reproach to them: [when] they saw me they shook their heads.
People ridicule me—they look at me and shake their heads!
26 Help me, O Lord my God; and save me according to your mercy.
Help me, Lord my God; save me because of your trustworthy love.
27 And let them know that this is your hand; and [that] you, Lord, have wrought it.
May they recognize that this is what you are doing—that you are the one who saves me.
28 Let them curse, but you shall bless: let them that rise up against me be ashamed, but let your servant rejoice.
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 those that falsely accuse me be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their shame as with a mantle.
May those who accuse me be clothed with disgrace; may they cover themselves with a cloak of shame.
30 I will give thanks to the Lord abundantly with my mouth; and in the midst of many I will praise him.
But I will keep on thanking the Lord, praising him to everyone around me.
31 For he stood on the right hand of the poor, to save [me] from them that persecute my soul.
For he takes a stand to defend the needy, to save them from those who condemn them.
