Psalms 109
Psalm 109
Prayer against an Enemy
For the choir director. A psalm of David.
1God of my praise, do not be silent.23For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me; they speak against me with lying tongues.4
5They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.6
7In return for my love they accuse me, but I continue to pray.8
9They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.10
11Set a wicked person over him; let an accuser stand at his right hand.12
13When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let his prayer be counted as sin.14
15Let his days be few; let another take over his position.16
17Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.18
19Let his children wander as beggars, searching for food far from their demolished homes.20
21Let a creditor seize all he has; let strangers plunder what he has worked for.22
23Let no one show him kindness, and let no one be gracious to his fatherless children.24
25Let the line of his descendants be cut off; let their name be blotted out in the next generation.26
27Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord, and do not let his mother’s sin be blotted out.28
29Let their sins always remain before the Lord, and let him remove all memory of them from the earth.30
31For he did not think to show kindness, but pursued the suffering, needy, and brokenhearted in order to put them to death.32
33He loved cursing — let it fall on him; he took no delight in blessing — let it be far from him.34
35He wore cursing like his coat — let it enter his body like water and go into his bones like oil.36
37Let it be like a robe he wraps around himself, like a belt he always wears.38
39Let this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers, to those who speak evil against me.40
41But you, Lord, my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name’s sake; because your faithful love is good, rescue me.42
43For I am suffering and needy; my heart is wounded within me.44
45I fade away like a lengthening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.46
47My knees are weak from fasting, and my body is emaciated.48
49I have become an object of ridicule to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn.50
51Help me, Lord my God; save me according to your faithful love52
53so they may know that this is your hand and that you, Lord, have done it.54
55Though they curse, you will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice.56
57My accusers will be clothed with disgrace; they will wear their shame like a cloak.58
59I will fervently thank the Lord with my mouth; I will praise him in the presence of many.60
61For he stands at the right hand of the needy to save him from those who would condemn him.62