Psalms 109
1 To the Overseer. — A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, be not silent,
For the music director. A psalm of David. God, the one I praise, please don't remain silent,
2 For the mouth of wickedness, and the mouth of deceit, Against me they have opened, They have spoken with me — A tongue of falsehood, and words of hatred!
because wicked and deceitful people are attacking me, telling lies about me.
3 They have compassed me about, And they fight me without cause.
They surround me with words of hate, fighting against me for no reason.
4 For my love they oppose me, and I — prayer!
I love them, but they respond with hostility towards me, even while I'm praying for them!
5 And they set against me evil for good, And hatred for my love.
They pay me back with evil instead of good, with hatred instead of love.
6 Appoint Thou over him the wicked, And an adversary standeth at his right hand.
“Appoint someone wicked over him. Have someone stand as an accuser against him.
7 In his being judged, he goeth forth wicked, And his prayer is for sin.
When he is judged and sentenced, may he be found guilty. Let his prayers be counted as sins.
8 His days are few, his oversight another taketh,
May his life be short; let someone else take over his position.
9 His sons are fatherless, and his wife a widow.
May his children be left fatherless, and his wife become a widow.
10 And wander continually do his sons, Yea, they have begged, And have sought out of their dry places.
May his children be homeless, wandering beggars, driven from their ruined houses.
11 An exactor layeth a snare for all that he hath, And strangers spoil his labour.
May creditors seize all that he owns; may strangers take all that he worked for.
12 He hath none to extend kindness, Nor is there one showing favour to his orphans.
May no one be kind to him; may no one take pity on his fatherless children.
13 His posterity is for cutting off, In another generation is their name blotted out.
May his descendants die; may his family name be wiped out in the next generation.
14 The iniquity of his fathers Is remembered unto Jehovah, And the sin of his mother is not blotted out.
May the Lord be reminded of the sins of his fathers; may his mother's sins not be blotted out.
15 They are before Jehovah continually, And He cutteth off from earth their memorial.
May their sins be constantly before the Lord; may his name be totally forgotten by people.
16 Because that he hath not remembered to do kindness, And pursueth the poor man and needy, And the smitten of heart — to slay,
For he didn't think to be kind to others, instead he harassed and killed the poor, the needy, the brokenhearted.
17 And he loveth reviling, and it meeteth him, And he hath not delighted in blessing, And it is 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 And he putteth on reviling as his robe, And it cometh in as water into his midst, 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 It is to him as apparel — he covereth himself, And for a continual girdle he girdeth it on.
May his curses stick to him like clothing, may they be pulled tight around him like a belt.”
20 This [is] the wage of mine accusers from Jehovah, And of those speaking evil against my soul.
May all this be the punishment of the Lord on my enemies, on those who speak evil of me.
21 And Thou, O Jehovah Lord, Deal with me for Thy name's sake, Because Thy kindness [is] good, deliver me.
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 needy, And my heart hath been pierced in my midst.
For I am poor and needy, and my heart is breaking.
23 As a shadow when it is stretched out I have gone, I have been driven away as a locust.
I am fading away like an evening shadow; I am like a locust that is shaken off.
24 My knees have been feeble from fasting, And my flesh hath failed of fatness.
I am so weak from lack of food that my legs give way; my body is just skin and bones.
25 And I — I have been a reproach to them, They see me, they shake their head.
People ridicule me—they look at me and shake their heads!
26 Help me, O Jehovah my God, Save me, according to Thy kindness.
Help me, Lord my God; save me because of your trustworthy love.
27 And they know that this [is] Thy hand, Thou, O Jehovah, Thou hast done it.
May they recognize that this is what you are doing—that you are the one who saves me.
28 They revile, and Thou dost bless, They have risen, and are ashamed, And Thy servant doth 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 Mine accusers put on blushing, and are covered, As an upper robe [is] their shame.
May those who accuse me be clothed with disgrace; may they cover themselves with a cloak of shame.
30 I thank Jehovah greatly with my mouth, And in the midst of many I praise Him,
But I will keep on thanking the Lord, praising him to everyone around me.
31 For He standeth at the right hand of the needy, To save from those judging his soul.
For he takes a stand to defend the needy, to save them from those who condemn them.
