|
1.
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent,
|
|
2.
for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.
|
|
3.
With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause.
|
|
4.
In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.
|
|
5.
They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.
|
|
6.
Appoint an evil man to oppose him; let an accuser stand at his right hand.
|
|
7.
When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him.
|
|
8.
May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.
|
|
9.
May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.
|
|
10.
May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven from their ruined homes.
|
|
11.
May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.
|
|
12.
May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children.
|
|
13.
May his descendants be cut off, their names blotted out from the next generation.
|
|
14.
May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
|
|
15.
May their sins always remain before the LORD, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
|
|
16.
For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted.
|
|
17.
He loved to pronounce a curse--may it come on him; he found no pleasure in blessing--may it be far from him.
|
|
18.
He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil.
|
|
19.
May it be like a cloak wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him.
|
|
20.
May this be the LORD'S payment to my accusers, to those who speak evil of me.
|
|
21.
But you, O Sovereign LORD, deal well with me for your name's sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.
|
|
22.
For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
|
|
23.
I fade away like an evening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.
|
|
24.
My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt.
|
|
25.
I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.
|
|
26.
Help me, O LORD my God; save me in accordance with your love.
|
|
27.
Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O LORD, have done it.
|
|
28.
They may curse, but you will bless; when they attack they will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice.
|
|
29.
My accusers will be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.
|
|
30.
With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD; in the great throng I will praise him.
|
|
31.
For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him.
|