Psalms

¹ My God, don't turn a deaf ear to my hallelujah prayer.

² Their lying tongues are like a pack of dogs out to get me,

³ barking their hate, nipping my heels—and for no reason!

⁴ and treat my prayer like a crime;

⁵ they return my love with hate.

⁶ dispatch Satan to prosecute him.

⁷ and when he prays, let his prayer turn to sin.

⁸ and give his job to somebody else.

⁹ dress his wife in widow's weeds;

¹⁰ evicted from their homes—homeless.

¹¹ and strangers, like vultures, pick him clean.

¹² no one willing to give his orphans a break.

¹³ so that nobody even remembers his name.

¹⁴ and make sure his mother's name is there, too—

¹⁵ but they themselves sunk in oblivion.

¹⁶ hounded the afflicted and heartbroken to their graves.

¹⁷ let curses rain down; Since he had no taste for blessing, let blessings flee far from him.

¹⁸ he drank curses, took his baths in curses.

¹⁹ he can wear curses every day of the week!

²⁰ an avalanche of just deserts from God.

²¹ work a miracle for me—you can do it! Get me out of here—your love is so great!—

²² I'm at the end of my rope, my life in ruins.

²³ my youth gone, old before my time.

²⁴ my body a rack of skin and bones.

²⁵ they take one look and shake their heads.

²⁶ save me through your wonderful love;

²⁷ that you, God, have been at work.

²⁸ you do the blessing.

²⁹ followed by cheers for me, your servant. Dress my accusers in clothes dirty with shame, discarded and humiliating old ragbag clothes.

³⁰ I'm singing his hallelujahs surrounded by crowds,

³¹ to rescue a life from the unjust judge.