New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible 1995

1O God, whom I praise, don’t stand silent and aloof

1For the choir director. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, Do not be silent!

2while the wicked slander me and tell lies about me.

2For they have opened the wicked and deceitful mouth against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

3They surround me with hateful words and fight against me for no reason.

3They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And fought against me without cause.

4I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them!

4In return for my love they act as my accusers; But I am in prayer.

5They repay evil for good, and hatred for my love.

5Thus they have repaid me evil for good And hatred for my love.

6They say, “Get an evil person to turn against him. Send an accuser to bring him to trial.

6Appoint a wicked man over him, And let an accuser stand at his right hand.

7When his case comes up for judgment, let him be pronounced guilty. Count his prayers as sins.

7When he is judged, let him come forth guilty, And let his prayer become sin.

8Let his years be few; let someone else take his position.

8Let his days be few; Let another take his office.

9May his children become fatherless, and his wife a widow.

9Let his children be fatherless And his wife a widow.

10May his children wander as beggars and be driven from their ruined homes.

10Let his children wander about and beg; And let them seek sustenance far from their ruined homes.

11May creditors seize his entire estate, and strangers take all he has earned.

11Let the creditor seize all that he has, And let strangers plunder the product of his labor.

12Let no one be kind to him; let no one pity his fatherless children.

12Let there be none to extend lovingkindness to him, Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.

13May all his offspring die. May his family name be blotted out in the next generation.

13Let his posterity be cut off; In a following generation let their name be blotted out.

14May the LORD never forget the sins of his fathers; may his mother’s sins never be erased from the record.

14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15May the LORD always remember these sins, and may his name disappear from human memory.

15Let them be before the LORD continually, That He may cut off their memory from the earth;

16For he refused all kindness to others; he persecuted the poor and needy, and he hounded the brokenhearted to death.

16Because he did not remember to show lovingkindness, But persecuted the afflicted and needy man, And the despondent in heart, to put them to death.

17He loved to curse others; now you curse him. He never blessed others; now don’t you bless him.

17He also loved cursing, so it came to him; And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.

18Cursing is as natural to him as his clothing, or the water he drinks, or the rich food he eats.

18But he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, And it entered into his body like water And like oil into his bones.

19Now may his curses return and cling to him like clothing; may they be tied around him like a belt.”

19Let it be to him as a garment with which he covers himself, And for a belt with which he constantly girds himself.

20May those curses become the LORD’s punishment for my accusers who speak evil of me.

20Let this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, And of those who speak evil against my soul.

21But deal well with me, O Sovereign LORD, for the sake of your own reputation! Rescue me because you are so faithful and good.

21But You, O GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name's sake; Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me;

22For I am poor and needy, and my heart is full of pain.

22For I am afflicted and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.

23I am fading like a shadow at dusk; I am brushed off like a locust.

23I am passing like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like the locust.

24My knees are weak from fasting, and I am skin and bones.

24My knees are weak from fasting, And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.

25I am a joke to people everywhere; when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn.

25I also have become a reproach to them; When they see me, they wag their head.

26Help me, O LORD my God! Save me because of your unfailing love.

26Help me, O LORD my God; Save me according to Your lovingkindness.

27Let them see that this is your doing, that you yourself have done it, LORD.

27And let them know that this is Your hand; You, LORD, have done it.

28Then let them curse me if they like, but you will bless me! When they attack me, they will be disgraced! But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing!

28Let them curse, but You bless; When they arise, they shall be ashamed, But Your servant shall be glad.

29May my accusers be clothed with disgrace; may their humiliation cover them like a cloak.

29Let my accusers be clothed with dishonor, And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

30But I will give repeated thanks to the LORD, praising him to everyone.

30With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the LORD; And in the midst of many I will praise Him.

31For he stands beside the needy, ready to save them from those who condemn them.

31For He stands at the right hand of the needy, To save him from those who judge his soul.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org