1 T o the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, be not silent,

2 F or the mouth of wickedness, and the mouth of deceit, Against me they have opened, They have spoken with me -- A tongue of falsehood, and words of hatred!

3 T hey have compassed me about, And they fight me without cause.

4 F or my love they oppose me, and I -- prayer!

5 A nd they set against me evil for good, And hatred for my love.

6 A ppoint Thou over him the wicked, And an adversary standeth at his right hand.

7 I n his being judged, he goeth forth wicked, And his prayer is for sin.

8 H is days are few, his oversight another taketh,

9 H is sons are fatherless, and his wife a widow.

10 A nd wander continually do his sons, Yea, they have begged, And have sought out of their dry places.

11 A n exactor layeth a snare for all that he hath, And strangers spoil his labour.

12 H e hath none to extend kindness, Nor is there one showing favour to his orphans.

13 H is posterity is for cutting off, In another generation is their name blotted out.

14 T he iniquity of his fathers Is remembered unto Jehovah, And the sin of his mother is not blotted out.

15 T hey are before Jehovah continually, And He cutteth off from earth their memorial.

16 B ecause that he hath not remembered to do kindness, And pursueth the poor man and needy, And the smitten of heart -- to slay,

17 A nd he loveth reviling, and it meeteth him, And he hath not delighted in blessing, And it is far from him.

18 A nd he putteth on reviling as his robe, And it cometh in as water into his midst, And as oil into his bones.

19 I t is to him as apparel -- he covereth himself, And for a continual girdle he girdeth it on.

20 T his the wage of mine accusers from Jehovah, And of those speaking evil against my soul.

21 A nd Thou, O Jehovah Lord, Deal with me for Thy name's sake, Because Thy kindness good, deliver me.

22 F or I poor and needy, And my heart hath been pierced in my midst.

23 A s a shadow when it is stretched out I have gone, I have been driven away as a locust.

24 M y knees have been feeble from fasting, And my flesh hath failed of fatness.

25 A nd I -- I have been a reproach to them, They see me, they shake their head.

26 H elp me, O Jehovah my God, Save me, according to Thy kindness.

27 A nd they know that this Thy hand, Thou, O Jehovah, Thou hast done it.

28 T hey revile, and Thou dost bless, They have risen, and are ashamed, And Thy servant doth rejoice.

29 M ine accusers put on blushing, and are covered, As an upper robe their shame.

30 I thank Jehovah greatly with my mouth, And in the midst of many I praise Him,

31 F or He standeth at the right hand of the needy, To save from those judging his soul.