The Song of the Slandered

1(108:1) For the end, a Psalm of David. O God, pass not over my praise in silence;

2(108:2) for 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.

3(108:3) And they have compassed me with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.

4(108:4) Instead of loving me, they falsely accused me: but I continued to pray.

5(108:5) And they rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

6(108:6) Set thou a sinner against him; and let the devil stand at his right hand.

7(108:7) When he is judged, let him go forth condemned: and let his prayer become sin.

8(108:8) Let his days be few: and let another take his office of overseer.

9(108:9) Let his children be orphans, and his wife a widow.

10(108:10) Let his children wander without a dwelling-place, and beg: let them be cast out of their habitations.

11(108:11) Let his creditor exact all that belongs to him: and let strangers spoil his labours.

12(108:12) Let him have no helper; neither let there be any one to have compassion on his fatherless children.

13(108:13) Let his children be given up to utter destruction: in one generation let his name be blotted out.

14(108:14) Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15(108:15) Let them be before the Lord continually; and let their memorial be blotted out from the earth.

16(108:16) Because he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the needy and poor man, and that to slay him that was pricked in the heart.

17(108:17) He loved cursing also, and it shall come upon him; and he took not pleasure in blessing, so it shall be removed far from him.

18(108:18) Yea, he put on cursing as a garment, and it is come as water into his bowels, and as oil into his bones.

19(108:19) Let it be to him as a garment which he puts on, and as a girdle with which he girds himself continually.

20(108:20) This is the dealing of the Lord with those who falsely accuse me, and of them that speak evil against my soul.

21(108:21) But thou, O Lord, Lord, deal mercifully with me, for thy name's sake: for thy mercy is good.

22(108:22) Deliver me, for I am poor and needy; and my heart is troubled within me.

23(108:23) I am removed as a shadow in its going down: I am tossed up and down like locusts.

24(108:24) My knees are weakened through fasting, and my flesh is changed by reason of the want of oil.

25(108:25) I became also a reproach to them: when they saw me they shook their heads.

26(108:26) Help me, O Lord my God; and save me according to thy mercy.

27(108:27) And let them know that this is thy hand; and that thou, Lord, hast wrought it.

28(108:28) Let them curse, but thou shalt bless: let them that rise up against me be ashamed, but let thy servant rejoice.

29(108:29) Let those that falsely accuse me be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their shame as with a mantle.

30(108:30) I will give thanks to the Lord abundantly with my mouth; and in the midst of many I will praise him.

31(108:31) For he stood on the right hand of the poor, to save me from them that persecute my soul.