Psalm 109

For the choir director. Of David. A psalm.

1God of my praise, do not keep silent.

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

3They surround me with words of hatred and attack me without cause.

4In return for my love they accuse me, but as for me, I pray.

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

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

7When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let his prayer become sin.

8Let his days be few; let another take his position.

9Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.

10Let his children wander without rest and beg; let them search for food far from their ruined homes.

11Let the creditor seize all that he has, and let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.

12Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, no one to pity his fatherless children.

13Let his descendants be cut off; in the next generation let their name be blotted out.

14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before Yahweh, and do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.

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

16For he did not remember to show kindness, but hounded the poor and needy man and the brokenhearted to put them to death.

17He loved cursing, and it came upon him; he took no pleasure in blessing, and it stayed far from him.

18He put on cursing like his garment; it soaked into his body like water, and like oil into his bones.

19Let it be like a garment he wraps around himself, like a belt he always wears.

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

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

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

23I fade away like a lengthening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.

24My knees give way from fasting; my body has grown lean, with no fat.

25I 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, that you, Yahweh, have done it.

28Let them curse, but you will bless; they rise up and are put to shame, but your servant rejoices.

29Let my accusers be clothed with disgrace; let them wrap themselves in their shame as in a cloak.

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

31For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save his life from those who condemn him.