Psalms 109

For the choirmaster. Of David. A psalm.

1O God of my praise, do not be silent.

2For the mouth of the wicked and a deceitful mouth have opened against me; they have spoken to me with a lying tongue.

3Words of hatred surround me, and they fight against me without cause.

4In return for my love, they accuse me, but I am prayer.

5They repaid me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

6Appoint a wicked man over him, and let an accuser stand at his right hand.

7When he is judged, let him come out guilty, and let his prayer become sin.

8May his days be few; may another take his office.

9May his sons be fatherless, and his wife a widow.

10May his children wander about and beg; may they seek among their ruins.

11May a creditor seize all that belongs to him, and may strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.

12Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, and no one to show favor to his fatherless children.

13May his posterity be cut off; in the next generation may their name be blotted out.

14May the guilt of his fathers be remembered before Yahweh, and may the sin of his mother not be blotted out.

15May they be before Yahweh continually, and may he cut off their memory from the earth.

16because he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy, the brokenhearted, to put them to death.

17He loved cursing, and it came upon him; he did not delight in blessing, and it was far from him.

18He clothed himself with cursing as his garment; it came into his inward parts like water, and like oil into his bones.

19May it be like a garment that he wraps around himself, and like a belt that he continually girds on.

20This is the recompense from Yahweh for my accusers, for those who speak evil against me.

21But you, Yahweh my Lord, act on my behalf for your name’s sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me.

22For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

23Like a lengthening shadow, I pass away; I am shaken off like a locust.

24My knees give way from fasting, and my flesh grows lean from lack of fat.

25And I have become an object of scorn to them; when they see me, they shake their heads.

26Help me, Yahweh my God; save me according to your steadfast love.

27Let them know that this is your hand; you, O Yahweh, have done it.

28They may curse, but you will bless. They rise up and are put to shame, but your servant will rejoice.

29May my accusers put on disgrace and wrap themselves in their shame like a robe.

30I will give great thanks to Yahweh with my mouth; in the midst of many I will praise him.

31For he stands at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who pass judgment on him.