Song of the Slandered

1For the end, a Psalm of David. O God, pass not over my praise in silence;

2for the mouth of the sinner and the mouth of the crafty man have been opened against me: they have spoken against me with a crafty tongue.

3And they have compassed me with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.

4Instead of loving me, they falsely accused me: but I continued to pray.

5And they rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

6Set thou a sinner against him; and let the devil stand at his right hand.

7When he is judged, let him go forth condemned: and let his prayer become sin.

8Let his days be few: and let another take his office of overseer.

9Let his children be orphans, and his wife a widow.

10Let his children wander without a dwelling-place, and beg: let them be cast out of their habitations.

11Let his creditor exact all that belongs to him: and let strangers spoil his labours.

12Let him have no helper; neither let there be any one to have compassion on his fatherless children.

13Let his children be given up to utter destruction: in one generation let his name be blotted out.

14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15Let them be before the Lord continually; and let their memorial be blotted out from the earth.

16Because he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the needy and poor man, and that to slay him that was pricked in the heart.

17He loved cursing also, and it shall come upon him; and he took not pleasure in blessing, so it shall be removed far from him.

18Yea, he put on cursing as a garment, and it is come as water into his bowels, and as oil into his bones.

19Let it be to him as a garment which he puts on, and as a girdle with which he girds himself continually.

20This is the dealing of the Lord with those who falsely accuse me, and of them that speak evil against my soul.

21But thou, O Lord, Lord, deal mercifully with me, for thy name's sake: for thy mercy is good.

22Deliver me, for I am poor and needy; and my heart is troubled within me.

23I am removed as a shadow in its going down: I am tossed up and down like locusts.

24My knees are weakened through fasting, and my flesh is changed by reason of the want of oil.

25I became also a reproach to them: when they saw me they shook their heads.

26Help me, O Lord my God; and save me according to thy mercy.

27And let them know that this is thy hand; and that thou, Lord, hast wrought it.

28Let them curse, but thou shalt bless: let them that rise up against me be ashamed, but let thy servant rejoice.

29Let those that falsely accuse me be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their shame as with a mantle.

30I will give thanks to the Lord abundantly with my mouth; and in the midst of many I will praise him.

31For he stood on the right hand of the poor, to save me from them that persecute my soul.