^1. O GOD of my praise, Do not be silent!

^2. For they have opened the [2] wicked and deceitful mouth against me; They have spoken [1] against me with a lying tongue.

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

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

^5. Thus they have [3] repaid me evil for good And hatred for my love.

^6. Appoint a wicked man over him, And let an [4] accuser stand at his right hand.

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

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

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

^10. Let his children wander about and beg; And let them seek sustenance [5] far from their ruined homes.

^11. Let the creditor [6] seize all that he has, And let strangers plunder the product of his labor.

^12. Let there be none to [7] extend lovingkindness to him, Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.

^13. Let his posterity be [8] cut off; In a following generation let their name be blotted out.

^14. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered [9] before the LORD, And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.

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

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

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

^18. But he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, And it entered into [10] his body like water And like oil into his bones.

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

^20. [11] Let this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, And of those who speak evil against my soul.

^21. But You, O [12] GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name's sake; Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me;

^22. For I am afflicted and needy, And [13] my heart is wounded within me.

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

^24. My knees [14] are weak from fasting, And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.

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

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

^27. [15] And let them know that this is Your hand; You, LORD, have done it.

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

^29. [17] Let my accusers be clothed with dishonor, And [16] let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

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

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