Psalm 109

W. van der Kamp, 1972; rev.

1. O be not silent, heed and hear me;
   God of my praise, art Thou not near me?
   For wicked mouths, Thy word defying,
   Frame with their tongues deceit and lying.
   Though not deserving ill or threat,
   I am with words of hate beset.
   
2. They rave and without cause abuse me
   And in return for love accuse me.
   I pray for those who have abhorred me;
   With evil they for good reward me.
   LORD, Thou dost see it from above;
   With hatred they repay my love.
   
3. Appoint a wicked man to seize him.
   Let his accuser not release him;
   To him be guilt and blame awarded.
   His prayers be all as sin regarded!
   His days be few, his life distressed,
   His goods by other men possessed.
   
4. Waifs be the sons he has begotten;
   His wife be widowed and forgotten.
   And when they beg, let nought be given;
   They from their ruined homes be driven.
   May creditors seize all he won,
   His work by strangers be undone!
   
5. May he be banished from the city,
   None show his children any pity.
   May his posterity be banished,
   Cut off, until his name has vanished!
   Let men his father’s sins record,
   His mother’s guilt before the LORD.
   
6. May it be always recollected
   That he mistreated the afflicted,
   That to the destitute he never
   Showed any kindness, any favor;
   The poor and brokenhearted he
   Chased to their death, relentlessly.
   
7. He loved to curse, may curses press him!
   He scoffed at blessings, may none bless him!
   He as a garment wore his cursing,
   His evil and his hatred nursing.
   May all the ills he did and spoke
   Like oil into his body soak.
   
8. His cursing be a cloak around him,
   A belt that with his guilt has bound him.
   May all who without cause accuse me
   And speak their evil to abuse me
   Receive all these things from the LORD
   As their appropriate reward.
   
9. But Thou, O God my LORD and Savior,
   For Thy Name’s sake show me Thy favor!
   Thy steadfast love is good; O heed me,
   Come to my help, I’m poor and needy.
   Deliver me and set me free,
   For stricken is my heart in me.
   
10. An evening shadow, soon departed,
    A locust, shaken off, discarded -
    These do I in my woe resemble.
    My knees, through fasting weakened, tremble;
    My body gaunt, all strength has fled,
    And my accusers wag their head.
    
11. Help me, O LORD my God, and hear me.
    In Thy unfailing love be near me!
    Do justice to Thy foes who shun it
    And let them know that Thou hast done it.
    LORD, let them curse, but do Thou bless,
    And save me in Thy righteousness.
    
12. Put Thou to shame those who attack me
    And with their taunts torment and rack me;
    But may Thy servant sing with gladness,
    Saved by Thy hand from grief and sadness.
    Dishonor all who me accuse;
    Clothe them with shame and with abuse!
    
13. I’ll thank the LORD for His salvation
    And praise Him in the congregation,
    For at the right hand of the needy
    Stands He who in His love shall heed me.
    Though foes the poor man may condemn,
    The LORD Himself saves him from them.