My song shall be of mercy and judgement  *

unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.

O let me have understanding *

in the way of godliness.

When wilt thou come unto me *

I will walk in my house with a perfect heart.

I will take no wicked thing in hand; I hate the sins of unfaithfulness *

there shall no such cleave unto me.

A froward heart shall depart from me *

I will not know a wicked person.

Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour *

him will I destroy.

Whoso hath also a proud look and high stomach *

I will not suffer him.

Mine eyes look upon such as are faithful in the land *

that they may dwell with me.

Whoso leadeth a godly life *

he shall be my servant.

There shall no deceitful person dwell in my house *

he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

I shall soon destroy all the ungodly that are in the land *

that I may root out all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.

Hold not thy tongue, O God of my praise  *

for the mouth of the ungodly, yea, the mouth of the deceitful is opened upon me.

And they have spoken against me with false tongues *

they compassed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.

For the love that I had unto them, lo, they take now my contrary part *

but I give myself unto prayer.

Thus have they rewarded me evil for good *

and hatred for my good will.

But deal thou with me, O Lord God, according unto thy Name *

for sweet is thy mercy.

O deliver me, for I am helpless and poor *

and my heart is wounded within me.

I go hence like the shadow that departeth *

and am driven away as the grasshopper.

My knees are weak through fasting *

my flesh is dried up for want of fatness.

I became also a reproach unto them *

they that looked upon me shaked their heads.

Help me, O Lord my God *

O save me according to thy mercy.

And they shall know, how that this is thy hand *

and that thou, Lord, hast done it.

Though they curse, yet bless thou *

and let them be confounded that rise up against me; but let thy servant rejoice.

Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame *

and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a cloke.

As for me, I will give great thanks unto the Lord with my mouth *

and praise him among the multitude.

For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor *

to save his soul from the unrighteous judges.