Psalm 109 | Liturgical Calendar

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.