Thursday, October 10, 2024

May it be so.

 Psalm 109 -- To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

[1] Be not silent, O God of my praise!

[2] For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,

speaking against me with lying tongues.

[3] They encircle me with words of hate,

and attack me without cause.

[4] In return for my love they accuse me,

but I give myself to prayer.

[5] So they reward me evil for good,

and hatred for my love.

[6] Appoint a wicked man against them;

let an accuser stand at their right hand.

[7] When they are tried, let them come forth guilty;

let their prayer be counted as sin!

[8] May their days be few;

may another take their office!

[9] May their children be fatherless and motherless

and their spouse a widow or widower!

[10] May their children wander about and beg,

seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!

[11] May the creditor seize all that they have;

may strangers plunder the fruits of their toil!

[12] Let there be none to extend kindness to them,

nor any to pity their orphaned children!

[13] May their posterity be cut off;

may their name be blotted out in the second generation!

[14] May the iniquity of their fathers be remembered before the LORD,

and let not the sin of their mother be blotted out!

[15] Let them be before the LORD continually,

that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth!

[16] For they did not remember to show kindness,

but pursued the poor and needy

and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.

[17] They loved to curse; let curses come upon them!

They did not delight in blessing; may it be far from them!

[18] They clothed themselves with cursing as their coat;

may it soak into their body like water,

like oil into their bones!

[19] May it be like a garment that they wrap around themselves,

like a belt that they put on every day!

[20] May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD,

of those who speak evil against my life!

[21] But you, O GOD my Lord,

deal on my behalf for your name’s sake;

because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!

[22] For I am poor and needy,

and my heart is stricken within me.

[23] I am gone like a shadow at evening;

I am shaken off like a locust.

[24] My knees are weak through fasting;

my body has become gaunt, with no fat.

[25] I am an object of scorn to my accusers;

when they see me, they wag their heads.

[26] Help me, O LORD my God!

Save me according to your steadfast love!

[27] Let them know that this is your hand;

you, O LORD, have done it!

[28] Let them curse, but you will bless!

They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!

[29] May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;

may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

[30] With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD;

I will praise him in the midst of the throng.

[31] For he stands at the right hand of the needy one,

to save him from those who condemn his soul to death. 

(ESV - with a few slight adjustments by me.)

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