Study Desk

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

My God, whom I praise,^(a) do not remain silent,^(b)

for people who are wicked and deceitful^(c) have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.^(d)

With words of hatred^(e) they surround me; they attack me without cause.^(f)

In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.^(g)

They repay me evil for good,^(h) and hatred for my friendship.

Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy; let an accuser⁽ⁱ⁾ stand at his right hand.

When he is tried, let him be found guilty,^(j) and may his prayers condemn^(k) him.

May his days be few;^(l) may another take his place^(m) of leadership.

May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.⁽ⁿ⁾

May his children be wandering beggars;^(o) may they be driven^[a] from their ruined homes.

May a creditor^(p) seize all he has; may strangers plunder^(q) the fruits of his labor.^(r)

May no one extend kindness to him or take pity^(s) on his fatherless children.

May his descendants be cut off,^(t) their names blotted out^(u) from the next generation.

May the iniquity of his fathers^(v) be remembered before the Lord ; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.

May their sins always remain before^(w) the Lord , that he may blot out their name^(x) from the earth.

For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy^(y) and the brokenhearted.^(z)

He loved to pronounce a curse— may it come back on him.^(aa) He found no pleasure in blessing— may it be far from him.

He wore cursing^(ab) as his garment; it entered into his body like water,^(ac) into his bones like oil.

May it be like a cloak wrapped^(ad) about him, like a belt tied forever around him.

May this be the Lord 's payment^(ae) to my accusers, to those who speak evil^(af) of me.

But you, Sovereign Lord , help me for your name's sake;^(ag) out of the goodness of your love,^(ah) deliver me.^(ai)

For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

I fade away like an evening shadow;^(aj) I am shaken off like a locust.

My knees give^(ak) way from fasting;^(al) my body is thin and gaunt.^(am)

I am an object of scorn^(an) to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.^(ao)

Help me,^(ap) Lord my God; save me according to your unfailing love.

Let them know^(aq) that it is your hand, that you, Lord , have done it.

While they curse,^(ar) may you bless; may those who attack me be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice.^(as)

May my accusers be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame^(at) as in a cloak.

With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord ; in the great throng^(au) of worshipers I will praise him.

For he stands at the right hand^(av) of the needy, to save their lives from those who would condemn them.

Of David. A psalm.

The Lord says^(a) to my lord:^[a] "Sit at my right hand^(b) until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."^(c)

The Lord will extend your mighty scepter^(d) from Zion,^(e) saying, "Rule^(f) in the midst of your enemies!"

Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor,^(g) your young men will come to you like dew from the morning's womb.^[b](h)

The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind:⁽ⁱ⁾ "You are a priest forever,^(j) in the order of Melchizedek.^(k)"

The Lord is at your right hand^[c];^(l) he will crush kings^(m) on the day of his wrath.⁽ⁿ⁾

He will judge the nations,^(o) heaping up the dead^(p) and crushing the rulers^(q) of the whole earth.

He will drink from a brook along the way,^[d] and so he will lift his head high.^(r)

Of David.

I will praise you, Lord , with all my heart; before the "gods"^(a) I will sing^(b) your praise.

I will bow down toward your holy temple^(c) and will praise your name^(d) for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,^(e) for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame.^(f)

When I called,^(g) you answered me;^(h) you greatly emboldened⁽ⁱ⁾ me.

May all the kings of the earth^(j) praise you, Lord , when they hear what you have decreed.

May they sing^(k) of the ways of the Lord , for the glory of the Lord ^(l) is great.

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;^(m) though lofty, he sees them⁽ⁿ⁾ from afar.

Though I walk^(o) in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life.^(p) You stretch out your hand^(q) against the anger of my foes;^(r) with your right hand^(s) you save me.^(t)

The Lord will vindicate^(u) me; your love, Lord , endures forever^(v)— do not abandon^(w) the works of your hands.^(x)