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

O God of my praise, Do not be 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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thus they have repaid 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.

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

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

When he is judged, let him come forth guilty, And let his prayer become sin.

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

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

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

Let his children be 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.

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

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

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

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

Let there be none to extend lovingkindness to him, Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

He also loved cursing, so it came to him; And he did not delight in blessing, so it was 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.

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

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

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

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

Let this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord, And of those who speak 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.

But 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 poor and needy, And my heart hath been pierced in my midst.

For I am afflicted and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.

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

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

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

My knees are weak from fasting, And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.

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

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

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

Help me, O Lord my God; Save me according to Your lovingkindness.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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