The Book of Psalms

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 109 -

The song of the slandered

To him that excelleth. A Psalme of David. Holde not thy tongue, O God of my praise.

For the mouth of the wicked, and the mouth full of deceite are opened vpon me: they haue spoken to me with a lying tongue.

They compassed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.

For my friendship they were mine aduersaries, but I gaue my selfe to praier.

And they haue rewarded me euil for good, and hatred for my friendship.

Set thou the wicked ouer him, and let the aduersarie stand at his right hand.

Whe he shalbe iudged, let him be condemned, and let his praier be turned into sinne.

Let his daies be fewe, and let another take his charge.

Let his children be fatherlesse, and his wife a widowe.

Let his children be vagabonds and beg and seeke bread, comming out of their places destroyed.

Let the extortioner catch al that he hath, and let the strangers spoile his labour.

Let there be none to extend mercie vnto him: neither let there be any to shewe mercie vpon his fatherlesse children.

Let his posteritie be destroied, and in the generation following let their name be put out.

Let the iniquitie of his fathers bee had in remembrance with the Lord: and let not the sinne of his mother be done away.

But let them alway be before the Lord, that he may cut off their memorial from ye earth.

Because he remembred not to shew mercie, but persecuted the afflicted and poore man, and the sorowfull hearted to slay him.

As he loued cursing, so shall it come vnto him, and as he loued not blessing, so shall it be farre from him.

As he clothed himselfe with cursing like a rayment, so shall it come into his bowels like water, and like oyle into his bones.

Let it be vnto him as a garment to couer him, and for a girdle, wherewith he shalbe alway girded.

Let this be the rewarde of mine aduersarie from the Lord, and of them, that speake euill against my soule.

But thou, O Lord my God, deale with me according vnto thy Name: deliuer me, (for thy mercie is good)

Because I am poore and needie, and mine heart is wounded within me.

I depart like the shadowe that declineth, and am shaken off as the grashopper.

My knees are weake through fasting, and my flesh hath lost all fatnes.

I became also a rebuke vnto them: they that looked vpon me, shaked their heads.

Helpe me, O Lord my God: saue me according to thy mercie.

And they shall know, that this is thine hand, and that thou, Lord, hast done it.

Though they curse, yet thou wilt blesse: they shall arise and be confounded, but thy seruant shall reioyce.

Let mine aduersaries be clothed with shame, and let them couer themselues with their confusion, as with a cloke.

I will giue thankes vnto the Lord greatly with my mouth and praise him among ye multitude.

For he will stand at the right hand of the poore, to saue him from them that woulde condemne his soule.

The song of the slandered

God of my praise, don’t remain silent,

for they have opened the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit against me. They have spoken to me with a lying tongue.

They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.

In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.

They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand.

When he is judged, let him come out guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin.

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

Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.

Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins.

Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.

Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, neither let there be anyone to have pity on his fatherless children.

Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out.

Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by the LORD. Don’t let the sin of his mother be blotted out.

Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth;

because he didn’t remember to show kindness, but persecuted the poor and needy man, the broken in heart, to kill them.

Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.

He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, like oil into his bones.

Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself, for the belt that is always around him.

This is the reward of my adversaries from the LORD, of those who speak evil against my soul.

But deal with me, GOD the Lord,(a) for your name’s sake, because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;

for I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me.

I fade away like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust.

My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat.

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

Help me, LORD, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness;

that they may know that this is your hand; that you, LORD, have done it.

They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice.

Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

I will give great thanks to the LORD with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.

For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.

Footnotes

(a)109:21 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”