Psalm 109

For the choir director: A psalm of David. ¹O God, whom I praise, don’t stand silent and aloof ² while the wicked slander me and tell lies about me. ³ They surround me with hateful words and fight against me for no reason. ⁴ I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them! ⁵ They repay evil for good, and hatred for my love.

⁶They say, Hebrew lacks They say. “Get an evil person to turn against him. Send an accuser to bring him to trial. ⁷ When his case comes up for judgment, let him be pronounced guilty. Count his prayers as sins. ⁸ Let his years be few; let someone else take his position. ⁹ May his children become fatherless, and his wife a widow. ¹⁰ May his children wander as beggars and be driven from their ruined homes. ¹¹ May creditors seize his entire estate, and strangers take all he has earned. ¹² Let no one be kind to him; let no one pity his fatherless children. ¹³ May all his offspring die. May his family name be blotted out in a single generation. ¹⁴ May the LORD never forget the sins of his fathers; may his mother’s sins never be erased from the record. ¹⁵ May the LORD always remember these sins, and may his name disappear from human memory. ¹⁶ For he refused all kindness to others; he persecuted the poor and needy, and he hounded the brokenhearted to death. ¹⁷ He loved to curse others; now you curse him. He never blessed others; now don’t you bless him. ¹⁸ Cursing is as natural to him as his clothing, or the water he drinks, or the rich food he eats. ¹⁹ Now may his curses return and cling to him like clothing; may they be tied around him like a belt.”

²⁰May those curses become the LORD’s punishment for my accusers who speak evil of me. ²¹ But deal well with me, O Sovereign LORD, for the sake of your own reputation! Rescue me because you are so faithful and good. ²² For I am poor and needy, and my heart is full of pain. ²³ I am fading like a shadow at dusk; I am brushed off like a locust. ²⁴ My knees are weak from fasting, and I am skin and bones. ²⁵ I am a joke to people everywhere; when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn.

²⁶Help me, O LORD my God! Save me because of your unfailing love. ²⁷ Let them see that this is your doing, that you yourself have done it, LORD. ²⁸ Then let them curse me if they like, but you will bless me! When they attack me, they will be disgraced! But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing! ²⁹ May my accusers be clothed with disgrace; may their humiliation cover them like a cloak. ³⁰ But I will give repeated thanks to the LORD, praising him to everyone. ³¹ For he stands beside the needy, ready to save them from those who condemn them.