1 For the music director, a psalm of David. O God of my praise, be not silent.
2 For the wicked and the deceitful have opened their mouth against me. They spoke to me with a lying tongue,
3 with hateful words surrounded me, and fought against me without cause.
4 In return for my love they are my accusers, but I am in prayer.
5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
6 Set a wicked man over him, let an accuser stand at his right hand.
7 When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and may his prayer be as sin.
8 Let his days be few, let another take his position.
9 May his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10 Let his children wander and beg and may they search in their ruins.
11 Let a creditor seize all he has, and may strangers plunder his labor.
12 Let no one show him mercy, or take pity on his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off, and his name be blotted out in the next generation.
14 May the guilt of his fathers be remembered before Adonai, the sin of his mother never blotted out.
15 Let their sins be before Adonai continually, that He may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
16 For he never remembered to show mercy. But he persecuted a poor and needy man, crushed in spirit, to put him to death.
17 How he loved cursing—may it fall on him! He had no pleasure in blessing— may it be far from him!
18 He wore cursing like his robe, until it filled his belly like water, and his bones like oil.
19 May it be like a cloak wrapped around him, like a belt tied around him always.
20 Let this be Adonai’s reward to my accusers, and to those who speak evil against me.
21 But You, Adonai my Lord, deal with me for Your Name’s sake. Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me.
22 For I am afflicted and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
23 I fade away like an evening shadow, shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees totter from fasting, and my flesh is lean, with no fat.
25 And I have become a taunt to them. When they see me, they wag their head.
26 Help me, Adonai my God, Save me through Your lovingkindness.
27 Let them know that it is Your hand— that You, Adonai, have done it.
28 They may curse, but You bless. When they arise, they will be ashamed, but Your servant will rejoice.
29 My accusers will be clothed in disgrace, and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.
30 I will greatly thank Adonai with my mouth, and in the midst of a throng will I praise Him.
31 For He stands at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who condemn his soul.