Psalm 109

Deus, laudem
1
Hold not your tongue, O God of my praise, *
for the mouth of the ungodly, the mouth of the deceitful is opened upon me.
2
They have spoken against me with false tongues; *
they encompassed me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
3
In return for the love that I had for them, they have become my adversaries; *
but I give myself to prayer.
4
Thus have they rewarded me evil for good, *
and hatred for my love.
5
Set an ungodly man to be ruler over him, *
and let an accuser stand at his right hand.
6
When judgment is given, let him be condemned, *
and let sentence be passed on him for guilt.
7
Let his days be few, *
and let another take his office.
8
Let his children be fatherless *
and his wife a widow.
9
Let his children be vagabonds and beg their bread; *
let them be driven out, even from desolate places.
10
Let the creditor consume all that he has, *
and let strangers take his labor for spoil.
11
Let there be no one to pity him, *
nor to have compassion upon his fatherless children.
12
Let his posterity be destroyed, *
and in the next generation let his name be blotted out.
13
Let the wickedness of his fathers be held in remembrance in the sight of the Lord, *
and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
14
Let them be always before the Lord, *
that he may root out the memorial of them from the earth;
15
Because he was not minded to do good, *
but persecuted to death the poor and needy, and those who were brokenhearted.
16
His delight was in cursing; let curses come upon him; *
he loved not blessing; therefore let it be far from him.
17
He clothed himself with cursing as with a garment, *
so let it soak into his body like water, and like oil into his bones.
18
Let it be to him as the cloak that he has on *
and as the belt that he always wears.
19
Let this be the recompense from the Lord to my enemies *
and to those who speak evil against my soul.
20
But deal with me, O Lord God, according to your Name; *
for sweet is your mercy.
21
O deliver me, for I am helpless and poor, *
and my heart is wounded within me.
22
I disappear like the shadow that lengthens, *
and am shaken off like a grasshopper.
23
My knees are weak through fasting; *
my flesh is grown lean for want of nourishment.
24
I have become a reproach to them; *
when they look on me, they shake their heads.
25
Help me, O Lord my God; *
save me according to your mercy;
26
And they shall know that this is your hand, *
and that you, O Lord, have done it.
27
Though they curse, yet you bless; *
let them be confounded who rise up against me, but let your servant rejoice.
28
Let my adversaries be clothed with shame, *
and let them cover themselves with their own disgrace as with a cloak.
29
As for me, I will give great thanks unto the Lord with my mouth, *
and praise him among the multitude;
30
For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, *
to save their souls from the unrighteous judges.