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

[2] For they have opened the wicked and deceitful mouth against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

[3] They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And fought against me without cause.

[4] In return for my love they act as my accusers; But I am in prayer.

[5] Thus they have repaid me evil for good And hatred for my love.

[6] Appoint a wicked man over him, And let an accuser stand at his right hand.

[7] When he is judged, let him come forth guilty, And let his prayer become sin.

[8] Let his days be few; Let another take his office.

[9] Let his children be fatherless And his wife a widow.

[10] Let his children wander about and beg; And let them seek sustenance far from their ruined homes.

[11] Let the creditor seize all that he has, And let strangers plunder the product of his labor.

[12] Let there be none to extend lovingkindness to him, Nor any to be gracious to his fatherless children.

[13] Let his posterity be cut off; In a following generation let their name be blotted out.

[14] Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.

[15] Let them be before the LORD continually, That He may cut off their memory from the earth;

[16] Because he did not remember to show lovingkindness, But persecuted the afflicted and needy man, And the despondent in heart, to put them to death.

[17] He also loved cursing, so it came to him; And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.

[18] But he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment, And it entered into his body like water And like oil into his bones.

[19] Let it be to him as a garment with which he covers himself, And for a belt with which he constantly girds himself.

[20] Let this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, And of those who speak evil against my soul.

[21] But You, O GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name's sake; Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me;

[22] For I am afflicted and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.

[23] I am passing like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like the locust.

[24] My knees are weak from fasting, And my flesh has grown lean, without fatness.

[25] I also have become a reproach to them; When they see me, they wag their head.

[26] Help me, O LORD my God; Save me according to Your lovingkindness.

[27] And let them know that this is Your hand; You, LORD, have done it.

[28] Let them curse, but You bless; When they arise, they shall be ashamed, But Your servant shall be glad.

[29] Let my accusers be clothed with dishonor, And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

[30] With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the LORD; And in the midst of many I will praise Him.

[31] For He stands at the right hand of the needy, To save him from those who judge his soul.

Psalms — Chapters