Psalms

¹ For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent,

² have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.

³ they attack me without cause.

⁴ but I am a man of prayer.

⁵ and hatred for my friendship.

⁶ let an accuser stand at his right hand.

⁷ and may his prayers condemn him.

⁸ may another take his place of leadership.

⁹ and his wife a widow.

¹⁰ may they be driven from their ruined homes.

¹¹ may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.

¹² or take pity on his fatherless children.

¹³ their names blotted out from the next generation.

¹⁴ may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.

¹⁵ that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.

¹⁶ but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted.

¹⁷ may it come on him; he found no pleasure in blessing— may it be far from him.

¹⁸ it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil.

¹⁹ like a belt tied forever around him.

²⁰ to those who speak evil of me.

²¹ deal well with me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.

²² and my heart is wounded within me.

²³ I am shaken off like a locust.

²⁴ my body is thin and gaunt.

²⁵ when they see me, they shake their heads.

²⁶ save me in accordance with your love.

²⁷ that you, O Lord, have done it.

²⁸ when they attack they will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice.

²⁹ and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.

³⁰ in the great throng I will praise him.

³¹ to save his life from those who condemn him.