For the Musical Director.
A Psalm of David.
1O God of my praise, do not remain silent!
2For they have opened a wicked and deceitful mouth against me. They have spoken to me with a lying tongue.
3They have also surrounded me with hateful words and fought against me without a cause.
4In return for my love they accuse me; but I am in prayer.
5Yes, they have given me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
6Appoint one who is wicked against him, and let an adversary stand at his right hand.
7When he is tried, let him come forth guilty, and let his prayer become sin.
8Let his days be few; let another one take his office.
9Let his children become fatherless and his wife a widow.
10Let his children wander all over and beg; and let them seek sustenance far from their ruins.
11Let the creditor seize all that he has, and let strangers plunder what he has earned.
12Let there be no one to extend loyal help to him, nor let there be any to show favor to his orphans.
13Let his posterity be cut off; in the following generation let their name be blotted out.
14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by Yahweh, and do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15Let them be continually present before Yahweh, that he may cut off their remembrance from the earth;
16because he did not remember to show loyal help, but persecuted the afflicted and needy person, even the one disheartened, to put him to death.
17He also loved cursing — let it come back upon him! And he did not delight in blessing — let it be far from him!
18Yes, he clothed himself with cursing like his garment — let it come back into his inward parts like water and like oil into his bones!
19Let it be to him like clothing with which he covers himself, and for a belt with which he continually wraps himself.
20Let this be the punishment from Yahweh for my adversaries, yes, of those who speak evil against my soul.
21But you, O Yahweh the Lord, deal with me for your name’s sake; because your covenant faithfulness is good, deliver me,
22for I am afflicted and needy, yes, my heart is wounded within me.
23I am vanishing like a lengthening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.
24My knees stagger from fasting, and my body has grown thin, without fat.
25I have also become a reproach to them; When they see me, they shake their head.
26Help me, O Yahweh my God! Deliver me according to your covenant faithfulness,
27that they may know that this is your hand; you, O Yahweh, have done it.
28They will curse, but you will bless; they have arisen and will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice.
29Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor, and let them wrap themselves in their shame as with a cloak.
30I will powerfully praise Yahweh with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him in the midst of many.
31For he stands at the right hand of the needy person, to deliver him from those who judge his soul.
REV Bible
