Psalm 109

A Prayer Against an Enemy

1 God, I praise you. Do not be silent.

2 Wicked people and liars have spoken against me; they have told lies about me.

3 They have said hateful things about me and attack me for no reason.

4 They attacked me, even though I loved them and prayed for them.

5 I was good to them, but they repay me with evil. I loved them, but they hate me in return.

6 They say about me, “Have an evil person work against him, and let an accuser stand against him.

7 When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let even his prayers show his guilt.

8 Let his life be cut short, and let another man replace him as leader.

9 Let his children become orphans and his wife a widow.

10 Make his children wander around, begging for food. Let them be forced out of the ruins in which they live.

11 Let the people to whom he owes money take everything he owns, and let strangers steal everything he has worked for.

12 Let no one show him love or have mercy on his orphaned children.

13 Let all his descendants die and be forgotten by those who live after him.

14 Lord, remember how wicked his ancestors were, and don’t let the sins of his mother be wiped out.

15 Lord, always remember their sins. Then make people forget about them completely.

16 “He did not remember to be loving. He hurt the poor, the needy, and those who were sad until they were nearly dead.

17 He loved to put curses on others, so let those same curses fall on him.
He did not like to bless others, so do not let good things happen to him.

18 He cursed others as often as he wore clothes. Cursing others filled his body and his life, like drinking water and using olive oil.

19 So let curses cover him like clothes and wrap around him like a belt.”

20 May the Lord do these things to those who accuse me, to those who speak evil against me.

21 But you, Lord God, be kind to me so others will know you are good. Because your love is good, save me.

22 I am poor and helpless and very sad.

23 I am dying like an evening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.

24 My knees are weak from fasting, and I have grown thin.

25 My enemies insult me; they look at me and shake their heads.

26 Lord my God, help me; because you are loving, save me.

27 Then they will know that your power has done this; they will know that you have done it, Lord.

28 They may curse me, but you bless me. They may attack me, but they will be disgraced. Then I, your servant, will be glad.

29 Let those who accuse me be disgraced and covered with shame like a coat.

30 I will thank the Lord very much; I will praise him in front of many people.
31 He defends the helpless and saves them from those who accuse them.

Psalm 109

For the music director, a psalm of David.

1 O God whom I praise, do not ignore me!

2 For they say cruel and deceptive things to me;
they lie to me.

3 They surround me and say hateful things;
they attack me for no reason.

4 They repay my love with accusations,
but I continue to pray.

5 They repay me evil for good,
and hate for love.

6 Appoint an evil man to testify against him!
May an accuser stand at his right side!

7 When he is judged, he will be found guilty!
Then his prayer will be regarded as sinful.

8 May his days be few!
May another take his job!

9 May his children be fatherless,
and his wife a widow!

10 May his children roam around begging,
asking for handouts as they leave their ruined home!

11 May the creditor seize all he owns!
May strangers loot his property!

12 May no one show him kindness!
May no one have compassion on his fatherless children!

13 May his descendants be cut off!
May the memory of them be wiped out by the time the next generation arrives!

14 May his ancestors’ sins be remembered by the Lord!
May his mother’s sin not be forgotten!

15 May the Lord be constantly aware of them,
and cut off the memory of his children from the earth!

16 For he never bothered to show kindness;
he harassed the oppressed and needy,
and killed the disheartened.

17 He loved to curse others, so those curses have come upon him.
He had no desire to bless anyone, so he has experienced no blessings.

18 He made cursing a way of life,
so curses poured into his stomach like water
and seeped into his bones like oil.

19 May a curse attach itself to him, like a garment one puts on,
or a belt one wears continually!

20 May the Lord repay my accusers in this way,
those who say evil things about me!

21 O sovereign Lord,
intervene on my behalf for the sake of your reputation!
Because your loyal love is good, deliver me!

22 For I am oppressed and needy,
and my heart beats violently within me.

23 I am fading away like a shadow at the end of the day;
I am shaken off like a locust.

24 I am so starved my knees shake;
I have turned into skin and bones.

25 I am disdained by them.
When they see me, they shake their heads.

26 Help me, O Lord my God!
Because you are faithful to me, deliver me!

27 Then they will realize this is your work,
and that you, Lord, have accomplished it.

28 They curse, but you will bless.
When they attack, they will be humiliated,
but your servant will rejoice.

29 My accusers will be covered with shame,
and draped in humiliation as if it were a robe.

30 I will thank the Lord profusely,
in the middle of a crowd I will praise him,

31 because he stands at the right hand of the needy,
to deliver him from those who threaten his life.