Psalms 109
1 For the leader. Of David, a psalm. O God whom I praise, keep not silence;
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. God of my praise, don’t remain silent,
2 for their wicked mouths they have opened against me, they speak to me with tongues that are false,
for they have opened the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit against me. They have spoken to me with a lying tongue.
3 they beset me with words of hatred, and fight without cause against me.
They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
4 My love they requite with hostility, while for them I lift up my prayer.
In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.
5 Evil for good they reward me, and hatred for my love.
They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
6 “Set over him one who is godless,” they say, “an opponent at his right hand.
Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand.
7 From his trial let him come forth guilty, may his prayer be counted as sin.
When he is judged, let him come out guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin.
8 Grant that his days may be few, that his office be seized by another.
Let his days be few. Let another take his office.
9 Grant that his children be fatherless, and that his wife be a widow.
Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10 Up and down may his children go begging, expelled from their desolate home.
Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins.
11 May all that he owns be seized by the creditor may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil.
Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.
12 “May none extend to him kindness, or pity his fatherless children.
Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, neither let there be anyone to have pity on his fatherless children.
13 His descendants be doomed to destruction! Blotted out be his name in one generation!
Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14 May his father’s guilt be remembered, and his mother’s sin not blotted out:
Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by Yahweh. Don’t let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 on record always before the Lord, and his memory root from the earth;
Let them be before Yahweh continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth;
16 for he gave no thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and the needy, drove the downhearted to death.
because he didn’t remember to show kindness, but persecuted the poor and needy man, the broken in heart, to kill them.
17 “May the curses he loved light upon him, may the blessings he loathed be afar.
Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.
18 Like a garment he clothed him with curses; may they pierce to his inwards like water, and cling to his bones like oil.
He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, like oil into his bones.
19 Let them be like the robe he wraps round him, like the belt he wears every day.”
Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself, for the belt that is always around him.
20 Be this the reward of my adversaries, of those who speak evil against me.
This is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh, of those who speak evil against my soul.
21 But you, Lord my God, be true to your name, deal kindly with me; in your gracious kindness save me.
But deal with me, Yahweh the Lord, for your name’s sake, because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;
22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
for I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me.
23 I am gone like a lengthening shadow, I am shaken off like a locust.
I fade away like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees totter from fasting, my flesh is shrivelled and spare.
My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat.
25 They heap insults upon me: when they see me, they shake their head.
I have also become a reproach to them. When they see me, they shake their head.
26 Help me, O Lord my God, and save me in your kindness.
Help me, Yahweh, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness;
27 Teach them that this is your hand, and your own doing, O Lord.
that they may know that this is your hand; that you, Yahweh, have done it.
28 Let them curse, if only you bless. Put my assailants to shame, and make your servant glad.
They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice.
29 My opponents be clothed with dishonor, and wrapped in a robe of shame.
Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.
30 I give thanks to you, Lord, with loud voice, I give praise in the midst of the throng;
I will give great thanks to Yahweh with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.
31 for he stands by the poor, at his right hand, to save them from those who condemn them.
For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.
