Psalms 109 — ULB

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

109Verse 1God whom I praise, do not be silent,
^{Verse 2}For the wicked and deceitful attack me;
they speak lies against me.
^{Verse 3}They surround me and say hateful things,
and they attack me without cause.
^{Verse 4}In return for my love they accuse me,
but I pray for them.
^{Verse 5}They repay me evil for good,
and they hate my love.
^{Verse 6}Appoint a wicked man over such an enemy as these people;
appoint an accuser to stand at his right hand.
^{Verse 7}When he is judged, may he be found guilty;
may his prayer be considered sinful.
^{Verse 8}May his days be few;
may another take his office.
^{Verse 9}May his children be fatherless,
and may his wife be a widow.
^{Verse 10}May his children wander about and beg,
asking for handouts as they leave their ruined home.
^{Verse 11}May the creditor take all he owns;
may strangers plunder what he earns.
^{Verse 12}May no one extend any kindness to him;
may no one have pity on his fatherless children.
^{Verse 13}May his children be cut off;
may their name be blotted out in the next generation.
^{Verse 14}May his ancestors' sins be mentioned to Yahweh;
and may the sin of his mother not be forgotten.
^{Verse 15}May their guilt always be before Yahweh;
may Yahweh cut off their memory from the earth.
^{Verse 16}May Yahweh do this because this man never bothered to show any covenant faithfulness,
but instead harassed the oppressed, the needy,
and the disheartened to death.
^{Verse 17}He loved cursing; may it come back upon him.
He hated blessing; may no blessing come to him.
^{Verse 18}He clothed himself with cursing as his garment,
and his curse came into his inner being like water,
like oil into his bones.
^{Verse 19}May his curses be to him like the clothes he wears to cover himself,
like the belt he always wears.
^{Verse 20}May this be the reward of my accusers from Yahweh,
of those who say evil things about me.
^{Verse 21}Yahweh my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name's sake.
Because your covenant faithfulness is good, save me.
^{Verse 22}For I am oppressed and needy,
and my heart is wounded within me.
^{Verse 23}I am fading away like the shadow of the evening;
I am shaken off like a locust.
^{Verse 24}My knees are weak from fasting;
I am turning to skin and bones.
^{Verse 25}I am disdained by my accusers;
when they see me, they shake their heads.
^{Verse 26}Help me, Yahweh my God;
save me by your covenant faithfulness.
^{Verse 27}May they know that this is your doing,
that you, Yahweh, have done this.
^{Verse 28}Though they curse me, please bless me;
when they attack, may they be put to shame,
but may your servant rejoice.
^{Verse 29}May my adversaries be clothed with shame;
may they wear their shame like a robe.
^{Verse 30}With my mouth I give great thanks to Yahweh;
I will praise him in the midst of a crowd.
^{Verse 31}For he will stand at the right hand of the one who is needy,
to save him from those who judge him.