Read the Bible

¹ I praise you, God!
    Don't keep silent.
² Destructive and deceitful lies
    are told about me,
³     and hateful things are said
    for no reason.
⁴ I had pity and prayed^[a]
    for my enemies,
    but their words to me
    were harsh and cruel.
⁵ For being friendly and kind,
    they paid me back
    with meanness and hatred.

⁶ My enemies said,
"Find some worthless fools
    to accuse him of a crime.
⁷     Try him and find him guilty!
    Consider his prayers a lie.
⁸ Cut his life short
and let someone else
    have his job.
⁹ Make orphans of his children
    and a widow of his wife;
¹⁰     make his children beg for food
    and live in the slums.

¹¹ "Let the people he owes
take everything he owns.
    Give it all to strangers.
¹² Don't let anyone be kind to him
    or have pity on the children
    he leaves behind.
¹³ Bring an end to his family,
    and from now on let him be
    a forgotten man.

¹⁴ "Don't let the Lord forgive
    the sins of his parents
    and his ancestors.
¹⁵ Don't let the Lord forget
    the sins of his family,
    or let anyone remember
    his family ever lived.
¹⁶ He was so cruel to the poor,
homeless, and discouraged
    that they died young.

¹⁷ "He cursed others.
    Now place a curse on him!
He never wished others well.
    Wish only trouble for him!
¹⁸ He cursed others more often
    than he dressed himself.
Let his curses strike him deep,
    just as water and olive oil
    soak through to our bones.
¹⁹ Let his curses surround him,
    just like the clothes
    he wears each day."

²⁰ Those are the cruel things
my enemies wish for me.
    Let it all happen to them!
²¹ Be true to your name, Lord God!
    Show your great kindness
    and rescue me.

²² I am poor and helpless,
    and I have lost all hope.
²³ I am fading away
    like an evening shadow;
    I am tossed aside
    like a crawling insect.
²⁴ I have gone without eating,^[b]
until my knees are weak,
    and my body is bony.
²⁵ When my enemies see me,
    they say cruel things
    and shake their heads.

²⁶ Please help me, Lord God!
Come and save me
    because of your love.
²⁷     Let others know that you alone
    have saved me.
²⁸ I don't care if they curse me,
    as long as you bless me.
You will make my enemies fail
    when they attack,
    and you will make me glad
    to be your servant.
²⁹ You will cover them with shame,
    just as their bodies
    are covered with clothes.

³⁰ I will sing your praises
and thank you, Lord,
    when your people meet.
³¹ You help everyone in need,
    and you defend them
    when they are on trial.