1Hold not thy peace , O God of my praise ; 2For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue . 3They compassed me about also with words of hatred ; and fought against me without a cause . 4For my love they are my adversaries : but I give myself unto prayer . 5And they have rewarded me evil for good , and hatred for my love .
The Accusations and Plea for Justice
6Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand . 7When he shall be judged , let him be condemned : and let his prayer become sin . 8Let his days be few ; and let another take his office . 9Let his children be fatherless , and his wife a widow . 10Let his children be continually vagabonds , and beg : let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places . 11Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour . 12Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children . 13Let his posterity be cut off ; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out . 14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD ; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out . 15Let them be before the LORD continually , that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth .
The Call for Retribution
16Because that he remembered not to shew mercy , but persecuted the poor and needy man , that he might even slay the broken in heart . 17As he loved cursing , so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing , so let it be far from him. 18As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment , so let it come into his bowels like water , and like oil into his bones . 19Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually . 20Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD , and of them that speak evil against my soul .
The Personal Despair and Hope in God
21But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord , for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good , deliver thou me. 22For I am poor and needy , and my heart is wounded within me. 23I am gone like the shadow when it declineth : I am tossed up and down as the locust . 24My knees are weak through fasting ; and my flesh faileth of fatness . 25I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads . 26Help me, O LORD my God : O save me according to thy mercy : 27That they may know that this is thy hand ; that thou, LORD , hast done it.
Conclusion and Assurance of Praise
28Let them curse , but bless thou: when they arise , let them be ashamed ; but let thy servant rejoice . 29Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame , and let them cover themselves with their own confusion , as with a mantle . 30I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth ; yea, I will praise him among the multitude . 31For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor , to save him from those that condemn his soul .