The song of the slandered
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For the chief musician. A psalm of David. God whom I praise, do not be silent,
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For the wicked and deceitful attack me; they speak lies against me.
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They surround me and say hateful things, and they attack me without cause.
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In return for my love they slander me, but I pray for them.
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They repay me evil for good, and they hate my love.
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Appoint a wicked man over such an enemy as these people; appoint an accuser to stand at his right hand.
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When he is judged, may he be found guilty; may his prayer be considered sinful.
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May his days be few; may another take his office.
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May his children be fatherless, and may his wife be a widow.
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May his children wander about and beg, asking for handouts as they leave their ruined home.
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May the creditor take all he owns; may strangers plunder what he earns.
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May no one extend any kindness to him; may no one have pity on his fatherless children.
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May his children be cut off; may their name be blotted out in the next generation.
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May his ancestors’ sins be mentioned to Yahweh; and may the sin of his mother not be forgotten.
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May their guilt always be before Yahweh; may Yahweh cut off their memory from the earth.
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May Yahweh do this because this man never bothered to show any covenant faithfulness, but instead harassed the oppressed, the needy, and the disheartened to death.
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He loved cursing; may it come back upon him. He hated blessing; may no blessing come to him.
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He clothed himself with cursing as his garment, and his curse came into his inner being like water, like oil into his bones.
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May his curses be to him like the clothes he wears to cover himself, like the belt he always wears.
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May this be the reward of my accusers from Yahweh, of those who say evil things about me.
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Yahweh my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name’s sake. Because your covenant faithfulness is good, save me.
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For I am oppressed and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
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I am fading away like the shadow of the evening; I am shaken off like a locust.
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My knees are weak from fasting; I am turning to skin and bones.
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I am disdained by my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.
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Help me, Yahweh my God; save me by your covenant faithfulness.
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May they know that this is your doing, that you, Yahweh, have done this.
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Though they curse me, please bless me; when they attack, may they be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice.
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May my adversaries be clothed with shame; may they wear their shame like a robe.
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With my mouth I give great thanks to Yahweh; I will praise him in the midst of a crowd.
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For he will stand at the right hand of the one who is needy, to save him from those who judge him.
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