Psalms 109

1For the leader. Of David. A psalm.O God of my praise,do not keep aloof,

2for the wicked and the deceitfulopen their mouth against me;they speak to me with lying tongue.

3They encircle me with words of hate;they attack me without cause.

4They answer my love with accusationand I must stand judgment

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

6Appoint someone wicked over him;may an accuser stand at his right side;

7may he be tried and convicted;may he be judged and found guilty.

8May his days be few;may another take over his position.

9May his children be orphans,his wife a widow.

10May his children wander from their hovels,begging in search of [bread].

11May his creditor seize all his possessions;may strangers plunder his wealth.

12May no one show him mercy;may none pity his orphans;

13may his posterity be cut off;may their names be blotted out in the next generation.

14May God be ever mindful of his father’s iniquity,and may the sin of his mother not be blotted out.

15May GOD be aware of them alwaysand cause their names to be cut off from the earth,

16because he was not minded to act kindly,and hounded to death the poor and needy man, one crushed in spirit.

17He loved to curse—may a curse come upon him!He would not bless—may blessing be far from him!

18May he be clothed in a curse like a garment,may it enter his body like water,his bones like oil.

19Let it be like the cloak he wraps around him,like the belt he always wears.

20May GOD thus repay my accusers,all those who speak evil against me.

21Now You, O GOD, my Sovereign,act in my behalf as befits Your name.Good and faithful as You are, save me.

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

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

24My knees give way from fasting;my flesh is lean, has lost its fat.

25I am the object of their scorn;when they see me, they shake their head.

26Help me, O my ETERNAL God;save me in accord with Your faithfulness—

27that all may know that it is Your hand,that You, O ETERNAL One, have done it.

28Let them curse, but You bless;let them rise up, but come to grief,while Your servant rejoices.

29My accusers shall be clothed in shame,wrapped in their disgrace as in a robe.

30My mouth shall sing much praise to GOD;I will acclaim in the midst of a throng,

31because [God] stands at the right hand of the needy,to save them from those who would condemn them.