Psalms 109
The psalmist asks God not to be silent in the face of his enemies' deceitful words and actions, and instead to bring judgment upon them. He prays for their downfall, including the loss of their family and possessions, and for their memory to be forgotten. The psalmist then turns to God, asking for his help and salvation, and expresses his trust in God's mercy and justice. He concludes by praising God for standing with the poor and oppressed, and for saving him from his persecutors.
Unto the end. A Psalm of DavidO God, do not be silent toward my praise, for the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the deceitful one have been opened against meThey have spoken against me with deceitful tongues, and they have surrounded me with hateful words, and they fought against me over nothingInstead of choosing to act on my behalf, they detracted me. But I gave myself to prayerAnd they set evil against me, instead of good, and hatred, in return for my loveEstablish the sinner over him, and let the devil stand at his right handWhen he is judged, may he go forth in condemnation, and may his prayer be counted as sinMay his days be few, and let another take his episcopateMay his sons be orphans, and his wife a widowMay his sons be carried by those who walk unsteadily, and may they go begging. And may they be cast out of their dwelling placesMay the money lenders scrutinize all his belongings, and let foreigners plunder his laborsMay there be no one to assist him, nor anyone to be compassionate to his orphaned childrenMay his posterity be in utter ruin. In one generation, may his name be wiped awayMay the iniquity of his fathers return in memory before the sight of the Lord, and do not let the sin of his mother be wiped awayMay these be opposite the Lord always, but let their memory perish from the earthFor certain things are not remembered about them, in order to be mercifulAnd so the destitute man was pursued, with the beggar and the remorseful in heart, so as to be put to deathAnd he loved a curse, and it came to him. And he was unwilling to have a blessing, and it went far from him. And he clothed himself with curses like a garment, and it entered his inner self like water, and it entered his bones like oilMay it be to him like a garment that covers him, and like a belt that always cinches himThis is the work of those who detract me with the Lord and who speak evils against my soulBut as for you, Lord, O Lord: act on my behalf for your name’s sake. For your mercy is sweetFree me, for I am destitute and poor, and my heart has been disquieted within meI have been taken away like a shadow when it declines, and I have been shaken off like locustsMy knees have been weakened by fasting, and my flesh has been replaced by oilAnd I have become a disgrace to them. They saw me, and they shook their headsHelp me, O Lord, my God. Save me according to your mercyAnd let them know that this is your hand, and that you, O Lord, have done thisThey will curse, and you will bless. May those who rise up against me be confounded. But your servant will rejoiceMay those who detract me be clothed with shame, and may they be covered with their confusion, as if with a double cloakI will confess exceedingly to the Lord with my mouth. And I will praise him in the midst of the multitudeFor he stands at the right hand of the poor, in order to save my soul from persecutors
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