1 O God of my praise, Do not be silent!

2 F or they have opened the wicked and deceitful mouth against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

3 T hey have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And fought against me without cause.

4 I n return for my love they act as my accusers; But I am in prayer.

5 T hus they have repaid me evil for good And hatred for my love.

6 A ppoint a wicked man over him, And let an accuser stand at his right hand.

7 W hen he is judged, let him come forth guilty, And let his prayer become sin.

8 L et his days be few; Let another take his office.

9 L et his children be fatherless And his wife a widow.

10 L et his children wander about and beg; And let them seek sustenance far from their ruined homes.

11 L et the creditor seize all that he has, And let strangers plunder the product of his labor.

12 L et there be none to extend lovingkindness to him, Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.

13 L et his posterity be cut off; In a following generation let their name be blotted out.

14 L et the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord, And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15 L et them be before the Lord continually, That He may cut off their memory from the earth;

16 B ecause he did not remember to show lovingkindness, But persecuted the afflicted and needy man, And the despondent in heart, to put them to death.

17 H e also loved cursing, so it came to him; And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.

18 B ut he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, And it entered into his body like water And like oil into his bones.

19 L et it be to him as a garment with which he covers himself, And for a belt with which he constantly girds himself.

20 L et this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord, And of those who speak evil against my soul.

21 B ut You, O God, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name’s sake; Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me;

22 F or I am afflicted and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.

23 I am passing like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like the locust.

24 M y knees are weak from fasting, And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.

25 I also have become a reproach to them; When they see me, they wag their head.

26 H elp me, O Lord my God; Save me according to Your lovingkindness.

27 A nd let them know that this is Your hand; You, Lord, have done it.

28 L et them curse, but You bless; When they arise, they shall be ashamed, But Your servant shall be glad.

29 L et my accusers be clothed with dishonor, And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

30 W ith my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord; And in the midst of many I will praise Him.

31 F or He stands at the right hand of the needy, To save him from those who judge his soul.