Psalms 109

Prayer against an Enemy

For the choir director. A psalm of David.

1 God of my praise, do not be silent.  * 109:1 Ps 28:1; 83:1

2 For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me;

they speak against me with lying tongues.  * 109:2 Ps 10:7; 52:4; 120:2

3 They surround me with hateful words

and attack me without cause.  * 109:3 Ps 35:7; 69:4; Jn 15:25

4 In return for my love they accuse me,

but I continue to pray.  * 109:4 Lit but I, prayer,* 109:4 Ps 69:13

5 They repay me evil for good,

and hatred for my love.  * 109:5 Ps 35:12; 38:20

6 Set a wicked person over him;

let an accuser  * 109:6 Or adversary stand at his right hand.  * 109:6 Zch 3:1

7 When he is judged, let him be found guilty,

and let his prayer be counted as sin.  * 109:7 Ps 1:5; Pr 28:9

8 Let his days be few;

let another take over his position.  * 109:8 Ps 55:23; Ac 1:20

9 Let his children be fatherless

and his wife a widow.  * 109:9 Ex 22:24

10 Let his children wander as beggars,

searching for food far  * 109:10 LXX reads beggars, driven far from their demolished homes.  * 109:10 Jb 30:5–8; Ps 59:15

11 Let a creditor seize all he has;

let strangers plunder what he has worked for.  * 109:11 Dt 28:43–44; Lm 5:2

12 Let no one show him kindness,

and let no one be gracious to his fatherless children.  * 109:12 Jb 5:4

13 Let the line of his descendants be cut off;

let their name be blotted out in the next generation.  * 109:13 Jb 18:17,19; Ps 9:5; Pr 10:7

14 Let the iniquity of his fathers

be remembered before the  Lord,  * 109:14 Ex 20:5; Nm 14:18

and do not let his mother’s sin be blotted out.  * 109:14 Neh 4:5; Jr 18:23

15 Let their sins  * 109:15 Lit Let them always remain before the  Lord,

and let him remove  * 109:15 Or cut off all memory of them from the earth.  * 109:15 Ps 34:16; 90:8; Jr 16:17

16 For he did not think to show kindness,

but pursued the suffering, needy, and brokenhearted

in order to put them to death.  * 109:16 Ps 34:18; 94:6

17 He loved cursing — let it fall on him;

he took no delight in blessing — let it be far from him.  * 109:17 Pr 14:14; Ezk 35:6; Mt 7:2

18 He wore cursing like his coat —

let it enter his body like water

and go into his bones like oil.  * 109:18 Nm 5:22

19 Let it be like a robe he wraps around himself,

like a belt he always wears.  * 109:19 Ps 73:26

20 Let this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers,

to those who speak evil against me.  * 109:20 Ps 54:5; 94:23; Is 3:11

21 But you, Lord, my Lord,

deal kindly with me for your name’s sake;  * 109:21 Ps 79:9; 106:8

because your faithful love is good, rescue me.  * 109:21 Ps 69:16

22 For I am suffering and needy;  * 109:22 Ps 40:17; 86:1

my heart is wounded within me.  * 109:22 Ps 143:4

23 I fade away like a lengthening shadow;  * 109:23 Ps 102:11

I am shaken off like a locust.

24 My knees are weak from fasting,

and my body is emaciated.  * 109:24 Lit denied from fat,* 109:24 Jb 16:8; Ps 35:13

25 I have become an object of ridicule to my accusers;  * 109:25 Lit to them

when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn.  * 109:25 Ps 22:6–7; 69:19

26 Help me, Lord  my God;

save me according to your faithful love  * 109:26 Ps 119:86

27 so they may know that this is your hand

and that you, Lord, have done it.  * 109:27 Jb 37:7

28 Though they curse, you will bless.

When they rise up, they will be put to shame,

but your servant will rejoice.  * 109:28 2Sm 16:11–12; Is 65:14

29 My accusers will be clothed with disgrace;

they will wear their shame like a cloak.  * 109:29 Jb 8:22; Ps 35:26; 132:18

30 I will fervently thank the  Lord with my mouth;

I will praise him in the presence of many.  * 109:30 Ps 22:22,25; 35:18; 111:1

31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy

to save him from those who would condemn him.  * 109:31 Ps 16:8; 110:5; 121:5