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(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

A Prayer for the Lord's Help

I praise you, God!
    Don't keep silent.
Destructive and deceitful lies
    are told about me,
and hateful things are said
    for no reason.
I had pity and prayed[a]
    for my enemies,
but their words to me
    were harsh and cruel.
For being friendly and kind,
they paid me back
    with meanness and hatred.

My enemies said,
“Find some worthless fools
    to accuse him of a crime.
Try him and find him guilty!
    Consider his prayers a lie.
(A) Cut his life short
and let someone else
    have his job.
Make orphans of his children
    and a widow of his wife;
10 make his children beg for food
    and live in the slums.

11 “Let the people he owes
take everything he owns.
    Give it all to strangers.
12 Don't let anyone be kind to him
or have pity on the children
    he leaves behind.
13 Bring an end to his family,
and from now on let him be
    a forgotten man.

14 “Don't let the Lord forgive
the sins of his parents
    and his ancestors.
15 Don't let the Lord forget
    the sins of his family,
or let anyone remember
    his family ever lived.
16 He was so cruel to the poor,
homeless, and discouraged
    that they died young.

17 “He cursed others.
    Now place a curse on him!
He never wished others well.
    Wish only trouble for him!
18 He cursed others more often
    than he dressed himself.
Let his curses strike him deep,
just as water and olive oil
    soak through to our bones.
19 Let his curses surround him,
just like the belt and clothes
    he wears each day.”

20 Those are the cruel things
my enemies wish for me.
    Let it all happen to them!
21 Be true to your name, Lord God!
Show your great kindness
    and rescue me.

22 I am poor and helpless,
    and I have lost all hope.
23 I am fading away
    like an evening shadow;
I am tossed aside
    like a crawling insect.
24 I have gone without eating,[b]
until my knees are weak,
    and my body is bony.
25 (B) When my enemies see me,
they say cruel things
    and shake their heads.

26 Please help me, Lord God!
Come and save me
    because of your love.
27 Let others know that you alone
    have saved me.
28 I don't care if they curse me,
    as long as you bless me.
You will make my enemies fail
    when they attack,
and you will make me glad
    to be your servant.
29 You will cover them with shame,
just as their bodies
    are covered with clothes.

30 I will sing your praises
and thank you, Lord,
    when your people meet.
31 You help everyone in need,
    and you save them from death.

Footnotes

  1. 109.4 and prayed: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  2. 109.24 without eating: See the note at 35.13.

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