1For the choirmaster. Of David. A psalm. O God of my praise, do not be silent.
2For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit are opened against me; they have spoken to me with a lying tongue.
3With words of hatred they have surrounded me, and they fight against me without cause.
4In return for my love they accuse me, but I am prayer.
5They have laid upon me evil in return for good, and hatred in return for my love.
6Appoint a wicked man over him, and let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7When he is judged, let him come out guilty, and let his prayer become sin.
8Let his days be few; let another take his office.
9Let his children be orphans and his wife a widow.
10Let his children wander about and beg, and let them seek from their ruins.
11Let a creditor seize all that he has, and let strangers plunder his labor.
12Let there be no one to extend loyal love to him, and let there be none to show favor to his orphans.
13Let his posterity be cut off; in the next generation let their name be blotted out.
14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before Yahweh, and let his mother’s sin not be blotted out.
15Let them be before Yahweh continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth.
16Because he did not remember to show loyal love, but pursued the poor and needy man, and the broken in heart, to put him to death.
17He loved cursing, and it came upon him; he did not delight in blessing, and it stayed far from him.
18He clothed himself with cursing as his garment; it entered like water into his inward parts, and like oil into his bones.
19Let it be to him like a garment he wraps around himself, and like a belt he fastens continually.
20This is the wage of my accusers from Yahweh, and of those who speak evil against my life.
21But you, O Lord Yahweh, deal with me for your name’s sake; because your loyal love is good, deliver me.
22For I am poor and needy, and my heart is pierced within me.
23Like a lengthening shadow I pass away; I am shaken off like a locust.
24My knees stagger from fasting, and my flesh grows lean, without fat.
25And I have become a reproach to them; they see me, they shake their heads.
26Help me, O Yahweh my God; save me according to your loyal love,
27that they may know that this is your hand, that you, Yahweh, have done it.
28Let them curse, but you will bless. They rose up and were put to shame, but your servant will rejoice.
29Let my accusers be clothed with dishonor, and let them wrap themselves in their shame like a robe.
30I will greatly give thanks to Yahweh with my mouth, and in the midst of many I will praise him.
31For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who condemn his life.
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