1 G od of my praise, don’t remain silent,

2 f or 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 a cause.

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

5 T hey have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

6 S et a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand.

7 W hen 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.

9 L et his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.

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

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

12 L et 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 the generation following let their name be blotted out.

14 L et 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 Yahweh continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth;

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

17 Y es, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.

18 H e 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 the clothing with which he covers himself, for the belt that is always around him.

20 T his is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh, of those who speak evil against my soul.

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

22 f or I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me.

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

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

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

26 H elp me, Yahweh, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness;

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

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

29 L et my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

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

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