109
1 God of my praise, do not be silent.
2 For wicked and deceitful mouths have opened against me;
they speak to me with a lying tongue.
3 They surround me with hateful words and fight against me without cause.
4 In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.
5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
6 Appoint a wicked man over him;
let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is tried, let him come out guilty;
let his prayer be counted as sin.
8 Let his days be few;
let another take his office.
9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10 Let his children wander continually and beg, seeking food from their ruined homes.
11 Let a creditor seize all he has;
let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.
12 Let no one extend steadfast love to him or show compassion to his fatherless children.
13 Let his offspring be cut off;
in the next generation let their name be erased.
14 Let the guilt of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, and let his mother’s sin not be erased.
15 Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth.
16 For he did not remember to show steadfast love, but pursued the afflicted and needy man, the brokenhearted, to put him to death.
17 He loved cursing, and it came upon him;
he did not delight in blessing, and it went far from him.
18 He clothed himself with cursing like a robe;
it entered him like water, like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be to him like a garment he wraps around himself, like a belt he always wears.
20 Let this be the recompense of my accusers from the LORD, of those who speak evil against my life.
21 But you, LORD, the Lord, act on my behalf for your name’s sake;
rescue me, for your steadfast love is good.
22 For I am afflicted and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
23 I fade like a lengthening shadow;
I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees falter from fasting;
my flesh has lost its fat.
25 I have become a reproach to them;
when they see me, they shake their heads.
26 Help me, LORD my God;
save me according to your steadfast love.
27 Let them know that this is your hand, that you, LORD, have done it.
28 Let them curse, but you bless.
Let them rise and be ashamed, but let your servant rejoice.
29 Let my accusers be clothed in disgrace;
let them wrap themselves in their shame as in a robe.
30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD;
I will praise him in the midst of the multitude.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who condemn his life.