1To the chanter, a Psalm of David. Hold not thy tongue, O God of my praise.
2For the mouth of the ungodly, yea and the mouth of the deceitful is opened upon me, and speak against me with false tongues.
3They compass me about with words of hatred, and fight against me without a cause.
4For the love that I had unto thee, they take now my contrary part, but I give myself unto prayer.
5Thus they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my good will.
6Set an ungodly man to be ruler over him, and let Satan stand at his right hand.
7When sentence is given upon him, let him be condemned, and let his prayer be turned into sin.
8Let his days be few, and his bishopric let another take.
9Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10Let his children be vagabonds, and beg their bread: let them seek it, as they that be destroyed.
11Let the extortioner consume all that he hath, and let strangers spoil his labour.
12Let there be no man to pity, nor to have compassion on his fatherless children.
13Let his end be destruction, and in the next generation let his name be clean put out.
14Let the wickedness of his fathers be had in remembrance in the sight of LORD, and let not the sin of his mother be done away.
15Let them be alway before the LORD, but as for the memorial of them selves, let it perish from out of the earth.
16And that because his mind was not to do good, but persecuted the poor helpless, and him that was vexed at the heart, to slay him.
17His delight was in cursing, and therefore shall it happen unto him: he loved not blessing, and that shall be far from him.
18He clothed himself with cursing like as with a raiment: yea it went into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
19Let it be unto him as the cloak that he hath on him, and as the girdle that he is girded withal.
20Let it thus happen from the LORD unto mine enemies, and to those that speak evil against my soul.
21But deal thou with me, O Lord GOD,(o LORDE God) according unto thy name, for sweet is thy mercy.
22O deliver me, for I am helpless and poor, and my heart is wounded within me.
23I go hence like the shadow that departeth, and am driven away as the grasshoppers.
24My knees are weak thorow fasting, my flesh is dried up for want of fatness.
25I am become a rebuke unto them, they look upon me and shake their heads.
26Help me, O LORD my God, oh save me for thy mercies' sake.
27That they may know, how that this is thy hand, and that thou hast done it.
28Though they curse, yet bless thou: and let them be confounded, that rise up against me, but let thy servant rejoice.
29Let mine adversaries be clothed with their own shame, as with a cloak.
30As for me, I will give thanks unto the LORD with my mouth, and praise him among the multitude.
31For he standeth at the right hand of the poor, to save him from such as condemn his soul.