[109:1] I praise you, God; don't remain silent!
[109:2] Wicked people and liars have attacked me. They tell lies about me,
[109:3] and they say evil things about me, attacking me for no reason.
[109:4] They oppose me, even though I love them and have prayed for them.
[109:5] They pay me back evil for good and hatred for love.
[109:6] Choose some corrupt judge to try my enemy, and let one of his own enemies accuse him.
[109:7] May he be tried and found guilty; may even his prayer be considered a crime!
[109:8] May his life soon be ended; may someone else take his job!
[109:9] May his children become orphans, and his wife a widow!
[109:10] May his children be homeless beggars; may they be driven from the ruins they live in!
[109:11] May his creditors take away all his property, and may strangers get everything he worked for.
[109:12] May no one ever be kind to him or care for the orphans he leaves behind.
[109:13] May all his descendants die, and may his name be forgotten in the next generation.
[109:14] May the Lord remember the evil of his ancestors and never forgive his mother's sins.
[109:15] May the Lord always remember their sins, but may they themselves be completely forgotten!
[109:16] That man never thought of being kind; he persecuted and killed the poor, the needy, and the helpless.
[109:17] He loved to curse—may he be cursed! He hated to give blessings—may no one bless him!
[109:18] He cursed as naturally as he dressed himself; may his own curses soak into his body like water and into his bones like oil!
[109:19] May they cover him like clothes and always be around him like a belt!
[109:20] Lord, punish my enemies in that way— those who say such evil things against me!
[109:21] But my Sovereign Lord, help me as you have promised, and rescue me because of the goodness of your love.
[109:22] I am poor and needy; I am hurt to the depths of my heart.
[109:23] Like an evening shadow I am about to vanish; I am blown away like an insect.
[109:24] My knees are weak from lack of food; I am nothing but skin and bones.
[109:25] When people see me, they laugh at me; they shake their heads in scorn.
[109:26] Help me, O Lord my God; because of your constant love, save me!
[109:27] Make my enemies know that you are the one who saves me.
[109:28] They may curse me, but you will bless me. May my persecutors be defeated, and may I, your servant, be glad.
[109:29] May my enemies be covered with disgrace; may they wear their shame like a robe.
[109:30] I will give loud thanks to the Lord; I will praise him in the assembly of the people,
[109:31] because he defends the poor and saves them from those who condemn them to death.