Psalms 109

Psalm 109

Prayer for Vindication and Vengeance

1Do not be silent, O God of my praise.[#Ps 83.1]

2For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,

speaking against me with lying tongues.

3They surround me with words of hate[#Ps 69.4]

and attack me without cause.

4In return for my love they accuse me,[#Ps 38.20; 69.13]

even while I make prayer for them.

5So they reward me evil for good[#Ps 35.12; 38.20]

and hatred for my love.

6They say, “Appoint a wicked man against him;[#Zech 3.1; #109.6 Heb lacks They say]

let an accuser stand on his right.

7When he is tried, let him be found guilty;[#Prov 28.9]

let his prayer be counted as sin.

8May his days be few;[#Acts 1.20]

may another seize his position.

9May his children be orphans[#Ex 22.24]

and his wife a widow.

10May his children wander about and beg;

may they be driven out of the ruins they inhabit.

11May the creditor seize all that he has;[#Job 5.5; 18.9]

may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil.

12May there be no one to do him a kindness[#Isa 9.17]

nor anyone to pity his orphaned children.

13May his posterity be cut off;[#Ps 37.28; Prov 10.7]

may his name be blotted out in the second generation.

14May the iniquity of his father be remembered before the Lord ,[#Ex 20.5; Neh 4.5; Jer 18.23; #109.14 Cn: Heb fathers]

and do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15Let them be before the Lord continually,[#Ps 34.16]

and may his memory be cut off from the earth.

16For he did not remember to show kindness[#Ps 37.14, 32]

but pursued the poor and needy

and the brokenhearted to their death.

17He loved to curse; let curses come on him.[#Prov 14.14; Ezek 35.6]

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

18He clothed himself with cursing as his coat;[#Num 5.22; Ps 73.6]

may it soak into his body like water,

like oil into his bones.

19May it be like a garment that he wraps around himself,

like a belt that he wears every day.”

20May that be the reward of my accusers from the Lord ,[#Ps 71.10; 94.23; 2 Tim 4.14]

of those who speak evil against my life.

21But you, O Lord my Lord,[#Ps 69.16; 79.9]

act on my behalf for your name’s sake;

because your steadfast love is good, deliver me.

22For I am poor and needy,[#Ps 40.17; 143.4]

and my heart is pierced within me.

23I am gone like a shadow at evening;[#Ps 102.11]

I am shaken off like a locust.

24My knees are weak through fasting;[#Heb 12.12]

my body has become gaunt.

25I am an object of scorn to my accusers;[#Ps 22.6, 7; Mt 27.39; Mk 15.29]

when they see me, they shake their heads.

26Help me, O Lord my God!

Save me according to your steadfast love.

27Let them know that this is your hand;[#Job 37.7]

you, O Lord , have done it.

28Let them curse, but you will bless.[#2 Sam 16.11, 12; Isa 65.14]

Let my assailants be put to shame; may your servant be glad.

29May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;[#Ps 35.26; 132.18]

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

30With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord ;[#Ps 35.18]

I will praise him in the midst of the throng.

31For he stands at the right hand of the needy,[#Ps 16.8; 121.5]

to save them from those who would condemn them to death.

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Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ