Psalms 109
1 For the chief musician. A psalm of David. God whom I praise, do not be silent,
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. God of my praise, don’t remain silent,
2 For the wicked and deceitful attack me; they speak lies against me.
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 surround me and say hateful things, and they attack me without cause.
They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me, but I pray for them.
In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.
5 They repay me evil for good, and they hate my love.
They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
6 Appoint a wicked man over such an enemy as these people; appoint an accuser to stand at his right hand.
Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand.
7 When he is judged, may he be found guilty; may his prayer be considered sinful.
When he is judged, let him come out guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin.
8 May his days be few; may another take his office.
Let his days be few. Let another take his office.
9 May his children be fatherless, and may his wife be a widow.
Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10 May his children wander about and beg, asking for handouts as they leave their ruined home.
Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins.
11 May the creditor take all he owns; may strangers plunder what he earns.
Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.
12 May no one extend any kindness to him; may no one have pity on 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 May his children be cut off; may their name be blotted out in the next generation.
Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14 May his ancestors' sins be mentioned to Yahweh; and may the sin of his mother not be forgotten.
Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by Yahweh. Don’t let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15 May their guilt always be before Yahweh; may Yahweh cut off their memory from the earth.
Let them be before Yahweh continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth;
16 May Yahweh do this because this man never bothered to show any covenant faithfulness, but instead harassed the oppressed, the needy, and the disheartened 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 He loved cursing; may it come back upon him. He hated blessing; may no blessing come to him.
Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.
18 He clothed himself with cursing as his garment, and his curse came into his inner being like water, like oil into his bones.
He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, like oil into his bones.
19 May his curses be to him like the clothes he wears to cover himself, like the belt he always wears.
Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself, for the belt that is always around him.
20 May this be the reward of my accusers from Yahweh, of those who say evil things about me.
This is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh, of those who speak evil against my soul.
21 Yahweh my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name's sake. Because your covenant faithfulness is good, 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 oppressed and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
for I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me.
23 I am fading away like the shadow of the evening; I am shaken off like a locust.
I fade away like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak from fasting; I am turning to skin and bones.
My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat.
25 I am disdained by my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.
I have also become a reproach to them. When they see me, they shake their head.
26 Help me, Yahweh my God; save me by your covenant faithfulness.
Help me, Yahweh, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness;
27 May they know that this is your doing, that you, Yahweh, have done this.
that they may know that this is your hand; that you, Yahweh, have done it.
28 Though they curse me, please bless me; when they attack, may they be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice.
They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice.
29 May my adversaries be clothed with shame; may they wear their shame like a robe.
Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.
30 With my mouth I give great thanks to Yahweh; I will praise him in the midst of a crowd.
I will give great thanks to Yahweh with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.
31 For he will stand at the right hand of the one who is needy, to save him from those who judge him.
For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.
