Psalm 109

New Coverdale Version

Hold not your tongue, O God of my praise, * for the mouth of the ungodly, the mouth of the deceitful is opened upon me.

They have spoken against me with false tongues; * they encompassed me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.

In return for the love that I had for them, they have become my adversaries; * but I give myself to prayer.

Thus have they rewarded me evil for good, * and hatred for my love.

Set an ungodly man to be ruler over him, * and let an accuser stand at his right hand.

When judgment is given, let him be condemned, * and let sentence be passed on him for guilt.

Let his days be few, * and let another take his office.

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

Let his children be vagabonds and beg their bread; * let them be driven out, even from desolate places.

Let the creditor consume all that he has, * and let strangers take his labor for spoil.

Let there be no one to pity him, * nor to have compassion upon his fatherless children.

Let his posterity be destroyed, * and in the next generation let his name be blotted out.

Let the wickedness of his fathers be held in remembrance in the sight of the Lord, * and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.

Let them be always before the Lord, * that he may root out the memorial of them from the earth,

Because he was not minded to do good, * but persecuted to death the poor and needy, and those who were brokenhearted.

His delight was in cursing; let curses come upon him; * he loved not blessing; therefore let it be far from him.

He clothed himself with cursing as with a garment, * so let it soak into his body like water, and like oil into his bones.

Let it be to him as the cloak that he has on * and as the belt that he always wears.

Let this be the recompense from the Lord to my enemies, * and to those who speak evil against my soul.

But deal with me, O Lord God, according to your Name; * for sweet is your mercy.

O deliver me, for I am helpless and poor, * and my heart is wounded within me.

I disappear like the shadow that lengthens, * and am shaken off like a grasshopper.

My knees are weak through fasting; * my flesh is grown lean for want of nourishment.

I have become a reproach to them; * when they look on me, they shake their heads.

Help me, O Lord my God; * save me according to your mercy;

And they shall know that this is your hand, * and that you, O Lord, have done it.

Though they curse, yet you bless; * let them be confounded who rise up against me, but let your servant rejoice.

Let my adversaries be clothed with shame, * and let them cover themselves with their own disgrace as with a cloak.

As for me, I will give great thanks unto the Lord with my mouth, * and praise him among the multitude,

For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, * to save their souls from the unrighteous judges.

© Anglican Church in North America. Used by permission.