Psalm 109

Psalm 109

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 O God, whom I praise,
don’t stand silent and aloof2 while the wicked slander me
and tell lies about me.3 They surround me with hateful words
and fight against me for no reason.4 I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations
even as I am praying for them!5 They repay evil for good,
and hatred for my love.6 They say,t “Get an evil person to turn against him.
Send an accuser to bring him to trial.7 When his case comes up for judgment,
let him be pronounced guilty.
Count his prayers as sins.8 Let his years be few;
let someone else take his position.9 May his children become fatherless,
and his wife a widow.10 May his children wander as beggars
and be driven from their ruined homes.11 May creditors seize his entire estate,
and strangers take all he has earned.12 Let no one be kind to him;
let no one pity his fatherless children.13 May all his offspring die.
May his family name be blotted out in a single generation.14 May the LORD never forget the sins of his fathers;
may his mother’s sins never be erased from the record.15 May the LORD always remember these sins,
and may his name disappear from human memory.16 For he refused all kindness to others;
he persecuted the poor and needy,
and he hounded the brokenhearted to death.17 He loved to curse others;
now you curse him.
He never blessed others;
now don’t you bless him.18 Cursing is as natural to him as his clothing,
or the water he drinks,
or the rich food he eats.19 Now may his curses return and cling to him like clothing;
may they be tied around him like a belt.”20 May those curses become the LORD’s punishment
for my accusers who speak evil of me.21 But deal well with me, O Sovereign LORD,
for the sake of your own reputation!
Rescue me
because you are so faithful and good.22 For I am poor and needy,
and my heart is full of pain.23 I am fading like a shadow at dusk;
I am brushed off like a locust.24 My knees are weak from fasting,
and I am skin and bones.25 I am a joke to people everywhere;
when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn.26 Help me, O LORD my God!
Save me because of your unfailing love.27 Let them see that this is your doing,
that you yourself have done it, LORD.28 Then let them curse me if they like,
but you will bless me!
When they attack me, they will be disgraced!
But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing!29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace;
may their humiliation cover them like a cloak.30 But I will give repeated thanks to the LORD,
praising him to everyone.31 For he stands beside the needy,
ready to save them from those who condemn 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.