Psalm 109
Reading edition
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
109:1 God of my praise, don't remain silent,
109:2 for they have opened the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit against me.
They have spoken to me with a lying tongue.
109:3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,
and fought against me without a cause.
109:4 In return for my love, they are my adversaries;
but I am in prayer.
109:5 They have rewarded me evil for good,
and hatred for my love.
109:6 Set a wicked man over him.
Let an adversary stand at his right hand.
109:7 When he is judged, let him come forth guilty.
Let his prayer be turned into sin.
109:8 Let his days be few.
Let another take his office.
109:9 Let his children be fatherless,
and his wife a widow.
109:10 Let his children be wandering beggars.
Let them be sought from their ruins.
109:11 Let the creditor seize all that he has.
Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.
109:12 Let there be none to extend kindness to him,
neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.
109:13 Let his posterity be cut off.
In the generation following let their name be blotted out.
109:14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by Yahweh.
Don't let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
109:15 Let them be before Yahweh continually,
that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth;
109:16 because he didn't remember to show kindness,
but persecuted the poor and needy man,
the broken in heart, to kill them.
109:17 Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him.
He didn't delight in blessing, and it was far from him.
109:18 He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment.
It came into his inward parts like water,
like oil into his bones.
109:19 Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself,
for the belt that is always around him.
109:20 This is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh,
of those who speak evil against my soul.
109:21 But deal with me, Yahweh the Lord, for your name's sake,
because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;
109:22 for I am poor and needy.
My heart is wounded within me.
109:23 I fade away like an evening shadow.
I am shaken off like a locust.
109:24 My knees are weak through fasting.
My body is thin and lacks fat.
109:25 I have also become a reproach to them.
When they see me, they shake their head.
109:26 Help me, Yahweh, my God.
Save me according to your loving kindness;
109:27 that they may know that this is your hand;
that you, Yahweh, have done it.
109:28 They may curse, but you bless.
When they arise, they will be shamed,
but your servant shall rejoice.
109:29 Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor.
Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.
109:30 I will give great thanks to Yahweh with my mouth.
Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.
109:31 For he will stand at the right hand of the needy,
to save him from those who judge his soul.