Psalmorum 109
1 In finem. Psalmus David.
For the music director. A psalm of David. God, the one I praise, please don't remain silent,
2 Deus, laudem meam ne tacueris, quia os peccatoris et os dolosi super me apertum est.
because wicked and deceitful people are attacking me, telling lies about me.
3 Locuti sunt adversum me lingua dolosa, et sermonibus odii circumdederunt me: et expugnaverunt me gratis.
They surround me with words of hate, fighting against me for no reason.
4 Pro eo ut me diligerent, detrahebant mihi; ego autem orabam.
I love them, but they respond with hostility towards me, even while I'm praying for them!
5 Et posuerunt adversum me mala pro bonis, et odium pro dilectione mea.
They pay me back with evil instead of good, with hatred instead of love.
6 Constitue super eum peccatorem, et diabolus stet a dextris ejus.
“Appoint someone wicked over him. Have someone stand as an accuser against him.
7 Cum judicatur, exeat condemnatus; et oratio ejus fiat in peccatum.
When he is judged and sentenced, may he be found guilty. Let his prayers be counted as sins.
8 Fiant dies ejus pauci, et episcopatum ejus accipiat alter.
May his life be short; let someone else take over his position.
9 Fiant filii ejus orphani, et uxor ejus vidua.
May his children be left fatherless, and his wife become a widow.
10 Nutantes transferantur filii ejus et mendicent, et ejiciantur de habitationibus suis.
May his children be homeless, wandering beggars, driven from their ruined houses.
11 Scrutetur fœnerator omnem substantiam ejus, et diripiant alieni labores ejus.
May creditors seize all that he owns; may strangers take all that he worked for.
12 Non sit illi adjutor, nec sit qui misereatur pupillis ejus.
May no one be kind to him; may no one take pity on his fatherless children.
13 Fiant nati ejus in interitum; in generatione una deleatur nomen ejus.
May his descendants die; may his family name be wiped out in the next generation.
14 In memoriam redeat iniquitas patrum ejus in conspectu Domini, et peccatum matris ejus non deleatur.
May the Lord be reminded of the sins of his fathers; may his mother's sins not be blotted out.
15 Fiant contra Dominum semper, et dispereat de terra memoria eorum:
May their sins be constantly before the Lord; may his name be totally forgotten by people.
16 pro eo quod non est recordatus facere misericordiam,
For he didn't think to be kind to others, instead he harassed and killed the poor, the needy, the brokenhearted.
17 et persecutus est hominem inopem et mendicum, et compunctum corde, mortificare.
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 Et dilexit maledictionem, et veniet ei; et noluit benedictionem, et elongabitur ab eo. Et induit maledictionem sicut vestimentum; et intravit sicut aqua in interiora ejus, et sicut oleum in ossibus ejus.
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 Fiat ei sicut vestimentum quo operitur, et sicut zona qua semper præcingitur.
May his curses stick to him like clothing, may they be pulled tight around him like a belt.”
20 Hoc opus eorum qui detrahunt mihi apud Dominum, et qui loquuntur mala adversus animam meam.
May all this be the punishment of the Lord on my enemies, on those who speak evil of me.
21 Et tu, Domine, Domine, fac mecum propter nomen tuum, quia suavis est misericordia tua.
But treat me well, Lord God, because of your own reputation. Save me because you are faithful and good.
22 Libera me, quia egenus et pauper ego sum, et cor meum conturbatum est intra me.
For I am poor and needy, and my heart is breaking.
23 Sicut umbra cum declinat ablatus sum, et excussus sum sicut locustæ.
I am fading away like an evening shadow; I am like a locust that is shaken off.
24 Genua mea infirmata sunt a jejunio, et caro mea immutata est propter oleum.
I am so weak from lack of food that my legs give way; my body is just skin and bones.
25 Et ego factus sum opprobrium illis; viderunt me, et moverunt capita sua.
People ridicule me—they look at me and shake their heads!
26 Adjuva me, Domine Deus meus; salvum me fac secundum misericordiam tuam.
Help me, Lord my God; save me because of your trustworthy love.
27 Et sciant quia manus tua hæc, et tu, Domine, fecisti eam.
May they recognize that this is what you are doing—that you are the one who saves me.
28 Maledicent illi, et tu benedices: qui insurgunt in me confundantur; servus autem tuus lætabitur.
When they curse me, you will bless me. When they attack me, you will defeat them. And I, your servant, will be happy.
29 Induantur qui detrahunt mihi pudore, et operiantur sicut diploide confusione sua.
May those who accuse me be clothed with disgrace; may they cover themselves with a cloak of shame.
30 Confitebor Domino nimis in ore meo, et in medio multorum laudabo eum:
But I will keep on thanking the Lord, praising him to everyone around me.
31 quia astitit a dextris pauperis, ut salvam faceret a persequentibus animam meam.
For he takes a stand to defend the needy, to save them from those who condemn them.
