Study Desk

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

My God, whom I praise,^(a) do not remain silent,^(b)

for people who are wicked and deceitful^(c) have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.^(d)

With words of hatred^(e) they surround me; they attack me without cause.^(f)

In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.^(g)

They repay me evil for good,^(h) and hatred for my friendship.

Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy; let an accuser⁽ⁱ⁾ stand at his right hand.

When he is tried, let him be found guilty,^(j) and may his prayers condemn^(k) him.

May his days be few;^(l) may another take his place^(m) of leadership.

May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.⁽ⁿ⁾

May his children be wandering beggars;^(o) may they be driven^[a] from their ruined homes.

May a creditor^(p) seize all he has; may strangers plunder^(q) the fruits of his labor.^(r)

May no one extend kindness to him or take pity^(s) on his fatherless children.

May his descendants be cut off,^(t) their names blotted out^(u) from the next generation.

May the iniquity of his fathers^(v) be remembered before the Lord ; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.

May their sins always remain before^(w) the Lord , that he may blot out their name^(x) from the earth.

For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy^(y) and the brokenhearted.^(z)

He loved to pronounce a curse— may it come back on him.^(aa) He found no pleasure in blessing— may it be far from him.

He wore cursing^(ab) as his garment; it entered into his body like water,^(ac) into his bones like oil.

May it be like a cloak wrapped^(ad) about him, like a belt tied forever around him.

May this be the Lord 's payment^(ae) to my accusers, to those who speak evil^(af) of me.

But you, Sovereign Lord , help me for your name's sake;^(ag) out of the goodness of your love,^(ah) deliver me.^(ai)

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

I fade away like an evening shadow;^(aj) I am shaken off like a locust.

My knees give^(ak) way from fasting;^(al) my body is thin and gaunt.^(am)

I am an object of scorn^(an) to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.^(ao)

Help me,^(ap) Lord my God; save me according to your unfailing love.

Let them know^(aq) that it is your hand, that you, Lord , have done it.

While they curse,^(ar) may you bless; may those who attack me be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice.^(as)

May my accusers be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame^(at) as in a cloak.

With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord ; in the great throng^(au) of worshipers I will praise him.

For he stands at the right hand^(av) of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them.