תהילים 109

1 למנצח לדוד מזמור אלהי תהלתי אל-תחרש

For the music director. A psalm of David. God, the one I praise, please don't remain silent,

2 כי פי רשע ופי-מרמה--עלי פתחו דברו אתי לשון שקר

because wicked and deceitful people are attacking me, telling lies about me.

3 ודברי שנאה סבבוני וילחמוני חנם

They surround me with words of hate, fighting against me for no reason.

4 תחת-אהבתי ישטנוני ואני תפלה

I love them, but they respond with hostility towards me, even while I'm praying for them!

5 וישימו עלי רעה תחת טובה ושנאה תחת אהבתי

They pay me back with evil instead of good, with hatred instead of love.

6 הפקד עליו רשע ושטן יעמד על-ימינו

“Appoint someone wicked over him. Have someone stand as an accuser against him.

7 בהשפטו יצא רשע ותפלתו תהיה לחטאה

When he is judged and sentenced, may he be found guilty. Let his prayers be counted as sins.

8 יהיו-ימיו מעטים פקדתו יקח אחר

May his life be short; let someone else take over his position.

9 יהיו-בניו יתומים ואשתו אלמנה

May his children be left fatherless, and his wife become a widow.

10 ונוע ינועו בניו ושאלו ודרשו מחרבותיהם

May his children be homeless, wandering beggars, driven from their ruined houses.

11 ינקש נושה לכל-אשר-לו ויבזו זרים יגיעו

May creditors seize all that he owns; may strangers take all that he worked for.

12 אל-יהי-לו משך חסד ואל-יהי חונן ליתומיו

May no one be kind to him; may no one take pity on his fatherless children.

13 יהי-אחריתו להכרית בדור אחר ימח שמם

May his descendants die; may his family name be wiped out in the next generation.

14 יזכר עון אבתיו--אל-יהוה וחטאת אמו אל-תמח

May the Lord be reminded of the sins of his fathers; may his mother's sins not be blotted out.

15 יהיו נגד-יהוה תמיד ויכרת מארץ זכרם

May their sins be constantly before the Lord; may his name be totally forgotten by people.

16 יען-- אשר לא זכר עשות חסד וירדף איש-עני ואביון--ונכאה לבב למותת

For he didn't think to be kind to others, instead he harassed and killed the poor, the needy, the brokenhearted.

17 ויאהב קללה ותבואהו ולא-חפץ בברכה ותרחק ממנו

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 וילבש קללה כמדו ותבא כמים בקרבו וכשמן בעצמותיו

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 תהי-לו כבגד יעטה ולמזח תמיד יחגרה

May his curses stick to him like clothing, may they be pulled tight around him like a belt.”

20 זאת פעלת שטני מאת יהוה והדברים רע על-נפשי

May all this be the punishment of the Lord on my enemies, on those who speak evil of me.

21 ואתה יהוה אדני-- עשה-אתי למען שמך כי-טוב חסדך הצילני

But treat me well, Lord God, because of your own reputation. Save me because you are faithful and good.

22 כי-עני ואביון אנכי ולבי חלל בקרבי

For I am poor and needy, and my heart is breaking.

23 כצל-כנטותו נהלכתי ננערתי כארבה

I am fading away like an evening shadow; I am like a locust that is shaken off.

24 ברכי כשלו מצום ובשרי כחש משמן

I am so weak from lack of food that my legs give way; my body is just skin and bones.

25 ואני הייתי חרפה להם יראוני יניעון ראשם

People ridicule me—they look at me and shake their heads!

26 עזרני יהוה אלהי הושיעני כחסדך

Help me, Lord my God; save me because of your trustworthy love.

27 וידעו כי-ידך זאת אתה יהוה עשיתה

May they recognize that this is what you are doing—that you are the one who saves me.

28 יקללו-המה ואתה תברך קמו ויבשו--ועבדך ישמח

When they curse me, you will bless me. When they attack me, you will defeat them. And I, your servant, will be happy.

29 ילבשו שוטני כלמה ויעטו כמעיל בשתם

May those who accuse me be clothed with disgrace; may they cover themselves with a cloak of shame.

30 אודה יהוה מאד בפי ובתוך רבים אהללנו

But I will keep on thanking the Lord, praising him to everyone around me.

31 כי-יעמד לימין אביון-- להושיע משפטי נפשו

For he takes a stand to defend the needy, to save them from those who condemn them.