109:1
[For the choirmaster Of David Psalm] God whom I praise, do not be silent!
109:2
Wicked and deceiving words are being said about me, false accusations are cast in my teeth.
109:3
Words of hate fly all around me, though I give no cause for hostility.
109:4
In return for my friendship they denounce me, and all I can do is pray!
109:5
They repay my kindness with evil, and friendship with hatred.
109:6
'Set up a wicked man against him as accuser to stand on his right.
109:7
At his trial may he emerge as guilty, even his prayer construed as a crime!
109:8
'May his life be cut short, someone else take over his office,
109:9
his children be orphaned, his wife be widowed.
109:10
'May his children wander perpetually, beggars, driven from the ruins of their house,
109:11
a creditor seize all his goods, and strangers make off with his earnings.
109:12
'May there be none left faithful enough to show him love, no one take pity on his orphans,
109:13
the line of his descendants cut off, his name wiped out in one generation.
109:14
'May Yahweh never forget the crimes of his ancestors, and his mother's sins not be wiped out;
109:15
may Yahweh keep these constantly in mind, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.'
109:16
He had no thought of being loyal, but hounded the poor and the needy and the broken-hearted to their death.
109:17
He had a taste for cursing; let it recoil on him! No taste for blessing; let it never come his way!
109:18
Cursing has been the uniform he wore; let it soak into him like water, like oil right into his bones.
109:19
Let it be as a robe which envelops him completely, a sash which he always wears.
109:20
Let this be the salary Yahweh pays the accusers who blacken my name.
109:21
Yahweh, treat them as your name demands; as your faithful love is generous, deliver me.
109:22
Poor and needy as I am, my wounds go right to the heart;
109:23
I am passing away like a fading shadow, they have shaken me off like a locust.
109:24
My knees are weak from lack of food, my body lean for lack of fat.
109:25
I have become the butt of their taunts, they shake their heads at the sight of me.
109:26
Help me, Yahweh my God, save me as your faithful love demands.
109:27
Let them know that yours is the saving hand, that this, Yahweh, is your work.
109:28
Let them curse, provided that you bless; let their attacks bring shame to them and joy to your servant!
109:29
Let my accusers be clothed in disgrace, enveloped in a cloak of shame.
109:30
With generous thanks to Yahweh on my lips, I shall praise him before all the people,
109:31
for he stands at the side of the poor, to save their lives from those who sit in judgement on them.
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