109:1 To the chief music-maker. Of David. A Psalm. God of my praise, let my prayer be answered;

109:2 For the mouth of the sinner is open against me in deceit: his tongue has said false things against me.

109:3 Words of hate are round about me; they have made war against me without cause.

109:4 For my love they give me back hate; but I have given myself to prayer.

109:5 They have put on me evil for good; hate in exchange for my love.

109:6 Put an evil man over him; and let one be placed at his right hand to say evil of him.

109:7 When he is judged, let the decision go against him; and may his prayer become sin.

109:8 Let his life be short; let another take his position of authority.

109:9 Let his children have no father, and his wife be made a widow.

109:10 Let his children be wanderers, looking to others for their food; let them be sent away from the company of their friends.

109:11 Let his creditor take all his goods; and let others have the profit of his work.

109:12 Let no man have pity on him, or give help to his children when he is dead.

109:13 Let his seed be cut off; in the coming generation let their name go out of memory.

109:14 Let the Lord keep in mind the wrongdoing of his fathers; and may the sin of his mother have no forgiveness.

109:15 Let them be ever before the eyes of the Lord, so that the memory of them may be cut off from the earth.

109:16 Because he had no mercy, but was cruel to the low and the poor, designing the death of the broken-hearted.

109:17 As he took pleasure in cursing, so let it come on him; and as he had no delight in blessing, let it be far from him.

109:18 He put on cursing like a robe, and it has come into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.

109:19 Let it be to him as a robe which he puts on, let it be like a band which is round him at all times.

109:20 Let this be the reward given to my haters from the Lord, and to those who say evil of my soul.

109:21 But, O Lord God, give me your help, because of your name; take me out of danger, because your mercy is good.

109:22 For I am poor and in need, and my heart is wounded in me.

109:23 I am gone like the shade when it is stretched out: I am forced out of my place like a locust.

109:24 My knees are feeble for need of food; there is no fat on my bones.

109:25 As for me, they make sport of me; shaking their heads when they see me.

109:26 Give me help, O Lord my God; in your mercy be my saviour;

109:27 So that they may see that it is the work of your hand; that you, Lord, have done it.

109:28 They may give curses but you give blessing; when they come up against me, put them to shame; but let your servant be glad.

109:29 Let my haters be clothed with shame, covering themselves with shame as with a robe.

109:30 I will give the Lord great praise with my mouth; yes, I will give praise to him among all the people.