Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

v1

O God of my praise, do not keep silent,

v2

for wicked and deceitful mouths ^[Literally “a wicked mouth and a deceitful mouth”] have opened against me. They speak to me with a lying tongue.

v3

They also surround me with words of hate, and fight me without cause.

v4

In return for my love they accuse me, though I am in prayer. ^[Or perhaps “I have a plea of innocence”]

v5

So they inflicted evil against me in return for good and hatred in return for my love.

v6

Appoint over him a wicked man, and let an accuser stand at his right hand.

v7

When he is judged, let him come out guilty, and let his prayer ^[Or perhaps “plea of innocence”] become as sin.

v8

Let his days be few; let another take his office.

v9

Let his children be orphans, and his wife a widow,

v10

and let his children wander aimlessly and beg, and let them plead from their ruins.

v11

Let the creditor seize all that is his, and let strangers plunder his property.

v12

Let there be none who extend to him loyal love, nor any who pities his orphans.

v13

Let his descendants ^[Or “posterity”; Hebrew is singular] be cut off. Let their name be blotted out in the next generation.

v14

Let the iniquity of his ancestors ^[Or “fathers”] be remembered before Yahweh, and let the sin of his mother not be blotted out.

v15

Let them be before Yahweh continually, that he may cut off their ^[That is, the family] memory from the earth,

v16

because he did not remember to show loyal love, but he pursued anyone, ^[Hebrew “a man”] poor or needy or brokenhearted, to slay them.

v17

Because he loved cursing, let it come upon him. Because he did not delight in blessing, let it be far from him.

v18

Because he wore a curse as his robe, let it enter his body ^[Literally “his inward part”] like water, and into his bones like oil.

v19

May it be for him like a garment in which he wraps, and a belt he continually wears. ^[Literally “continually he girds it”]

v20

Let this be the punishment for my accusers from Yahweh, even those who speak evil against my life.

v21

But you, O Yahweh my Lord, deal with me for your name’s sake. Because your loyal love is good, deliver me,

v22

for I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

v23

Like a lengthening shadow I am passing away; I am shaken off like a locust.

v24

My knees buckle ^[Literally “stumble”] from fasting, and my body grows lean without fat.

v25

And so I am a disgrace to them; when they see me, they shake their heads. ^[Hebrew “head”]

v26

Help me, O Yahweh my God; save me according to your loyal love,

v27

that they may know that this is your hand, that you, O Yahweh, you have done it.

v28

Let them curse, but you bless. When they arise, let them be put to shame, that your servant may be glad.

v29

Let my accusers put on disgrace, and let them cover themselves with their shame as with a robe.

v30

I will give thanks to Yahweh exceedingly with my mouth, and in the midst of many I will praise him,

v31

for he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those judging his life. ^[Or “soul”]