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

God of my praise, don’t remain silent,

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

for they have opened the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit against me. They have spoken to me with a lying tongue.

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

They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.

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

In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.

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

They have rewarded 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.

Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand.

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

When he is judged, let him come out guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin.

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

Let his days be few. Let another take his office.

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

Let 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.

Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins.

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

Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.

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

Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, neither let there be anyone to have pity on his fatherless children.

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

Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following 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.

Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by Yahweh. Don’t 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;

Let them be before Yahweh 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.

because he didn’t remember to show kindness, but persecuted the poor and needy man, the broken in heart, to kill them.

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

Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and 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.

He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, 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.

Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself, for the belt that is always around him.

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

This is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh, 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;

But deal with me, Yahweh the Lord, for your name’s sake, because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;

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

for I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me.

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

I fade away like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust.

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

My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat.

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

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

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

Help me, Yahweh, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness;

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

that they may know that this is your hand; that you, Yahweh, have done it.

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

They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice.

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

Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. 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.

I will give great thanks to Yahweh with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.

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

For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.