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The Song of the Slandered

Psalm subtitle:For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Verse1O God of my praise, be not silent.

Verse2For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me; they speak against me with lying tongues.

Verse3They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause.

Verse4In return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.

Verse5They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

Verse6Set over him a wicked man; let an accuser stand at his right hand.

Verse7When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayer be regarded as sin.

Verse8May his days be few; may another take his position.

Verse9May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.

Verse10May his children wander as beggars, seeking sustenance far from their ruined homes.

Verse11May the creditor seize all he owns, and strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.

Verse12May there be no one to extend kindness to him, and no one to favor his fatherless children.

Verse13May his descendants be cut off; may their name be blotted out from the next generation.

Verse14May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, and the sin of his mother never be blotted out.

Verse15May their sins always remain before the LORD, that He may cut off their memory from the earth.

Verse16For he never thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and brokenhearted, even to their death.

Verse17The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him.

Verse18The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.

Verse19May it be like a robe wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him.

Verse20May this be the LORD’s reward to my accusers, to those who speak evil against me.

Verse21But You, O GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for the sake of Your name; deliver me by the goodness of Your loving devotion.

Verse22For I am poor and needy; my heart is wounded within me.

Verse23I am fading away like a lengthening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.

Verse24My knees are weak from fasting, and my body grows lean and gaunt.

Verse25I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.

Verse26Help me, O LORD my God; save me according to Your loving devotion.

Verse27Let them know that this is Your hand, that You, O LORD, have done it.

Verse28Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice.

Verse29May my accusers be clothed with disgrace; may they wear their shame like a robe.

Verse30With my mouth I will thank the LORD profusely; I will praise Him in the presence of many.

Verse31For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from the condemners of his soul.