To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

1Be not silent, O God of my praise!

2For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,

speaking against me with lying tongues.

3They beset me with words of hate,

and attack me without cause.

4In return for my love they accuse me,

even as I make prayer for them.109.4 Syr: Heb I prayer

5So they reward me evil for good,

and hatred for my love.

6Appoint a wicked man against him;

let an accuser bring him to trial.109.6 Heb stand at his right hand

7When he is tried, let him come forth guilty;

let his prayer be counted as sin!

8109.8: Acts 1.20.May his days be few;

may another seize his goods!

9May his children be fatherless,

and his wife a widow!

10May his children wander about and beg;

may they be driven out of109.10 Gk: Heb and seek the ruins they inhabit!

11May the creditor seize all that he has;

may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!

12Let there be none to extend kindness to him,

nor any to pity his fatherless children!

13May his posterity be cut off;

may his name be blotted out in the second generation!

14May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD,

and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!

15Let them be before the LORD continually;

and may his109.15 Gk: Heb their memory be cut off from the earth!

16For he did not remember to show kindness,

but pursued the poor and needy

and the brokenhearted to their death.

17He loved to curse; let curses come on him!

He did not like blessing; may it be far from him!

18He clothed himself with cursing as his coat,

may it soak into his body like water,

like oil into his bones!

19May it be like a garment which he wraps round him,

like a belt with which he daily girds himself!

20May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD,

of those who speak evil against my life!

21But thou, O God my Lord,

deal on my behalf for thy name's sake;

because thy steadfast love is good, deliver me!

22For I am poor and needy,

and my heart is stricken within me.

23I am gone, like a shadow at evening;

I am shaken off like a locust.

24My knees are weak through fasting;

my body has become gaunt.

25109.25: Mt 27.39; Mk 15.29.I am an object of scorn to my accusers;

when they see me, they wag their heads.

26Help me, O LORD my God!

Save me according to thy steadfast love!

27Let them know that this is thy hand;

thou, O LORD, hast done it!

28Let them curse, but do thou bless!

Let my assailants be put to shame;109.28 Gk: Heb they have arisen and have been put to shame may thy servant be glad!

29May my accusers be clothed with dishonour;

may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a mantle!

30With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD;

I will praise him in the midst of the throng.

31For he stands at the right hand of the needy,

to save him from those who condemn him to death.