To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. On David's persecution by Doeg

1Do not remain silent, O God of my praise; 2For those who are wicked and deceitful have slandered and lied about me. 3They surround me with words of hatred; and assail me without a cause. 4In return for my friendship, they seek my harm; but I am a man of prayer. 5They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.

6Set an unscrupulous judge over my foe; and let an accuser stand at his right hand. 7When he is judged, let him be pronounced guilty; and let his prayers condemn him. 8Let his days be few; and let another take his office (position). 9Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. 10Let his children be continually wandering beggars; let them search for food in desolate places. 11Let the creditor seize all his possessions; and let the strangers plunder all that he earns. 12Let no one extend kindness to him; nor let anyone pity his fatherless children. 13Let his offspring die, and, in the generation following, let their family name be blotted out. 14Let the sin of his father and of his mother be remembered with the LORD; and not be blotted out. 15Let them be before the LORD continually, that He may blot out their memory from the earth. 16Because he never showed mercy, but hounded the poor, needy, and broken-hearted to death. 17As he loved cursing, so let it come to him; as he did not delight in blessing, let it be far from him. 18As he clothed himself with cursing like a garment, let it enter his body like water, and into his bones like oil. 19Let it be to him like a garment which covers him, and a belt that he puts on every day. 20Let this be the reward from You, LORD, for my accusers, and those that spoke evil against me.

21But deliver me, O LORD God, for Your name’s sake; because Your mercy is good. 22For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. 23I am fading like an evening shadow; I am brushed off like a locust. 24My knees buckle from fasting; and my body is thin and gaunt. 25I am an object of scorn to my foes; when they looked at me, they shake their heads. 26Help me, O LORD my God; O save me according to Your mercy, 27Let them know that this is Your hand; that You, LORD, have done it. 28When they curse, may You bless; when they attack me, let them be ashamed; but let Your servant rejoice. 29Let my adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them be wrapped with humiliation and confusion like a cloak. 30I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yes, I will praise Him among the congregation; 31For He stands at the right hand of the poor and needy, to save them from those that condemn them.