International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1God, whom I praise, do not be silent,

1Be not silent, O God of my praise!

2for the mouths of wicked and deceitful people are opened against me; they speak against me with lying tongues.

2For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues.

3They surround me with hate-filled words, attacking me for no reason.

3They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause.

4Instead of receiving my love, they accuse me, though I continue in prayer.

4In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.

5They devise evil against me instead of good, and hatred in place of my love.

5So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

6Appoint an evil person over him; may an accuser stand at his right side.

6Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand.

7When he is judged, may he be found guilty; may his prayer be regarded as sin.

7When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin!

8May his days be few; may another take over his position.

8May his days be few; may another take his office!

9May his children become fatherless, and his wife a widow.

9May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow!

10May his children roam around begging, seeking food while driven far from their ruined homes.

10May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!

11May creditors seize all his possessions, and may foreigners loot the property he has acquired.

11May the creditor seize all that he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!

12May no one extend gracious love to him, or show favor to his fatherless children.

12Let there be none to extend kindness to him, nor any to pity his fatherless children!

13May his descendants be eliminated, and their memory be erased from the next generation.

13May his posterity be cut off; may his name be blotted out in the second generation!

14May his ancestors' guilt be remembered in the LORD's presence, and may his mother's guilt not be erased.

14May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!

15May what they have done be continually in the LORD's presence; and may their memory be excised from the earth.

15Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth!

16For he didn't think to extend gracious love; he harassed to death the poor, the needy, and the broken hearted.

16For he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.

17He loved to curse—may his curses return upon him! He took no delight in blessing others — so may blessings be far from him.

17He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!

18He wore curses like a garment— may they enter his inner being like water and his bones like oil.

18He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones!

19May those curses wrap around him like a garment, or like a belt that one always wears.

19May it be like a garment that he wraps around him, like a belt that he puts on every day!

20May this be the way the LORD repays my accuser, those who speak evil against me.

20May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, of those who speak evil against my life!

21Now you, LORD my God, defend me for your name's sake; because your gracious love is good, deliver me!

21But you, O GOD my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name’s sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!

22Indeed, I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

22For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me.

23I am fading away like a shadow late in the day; I am shaken off like a locust.

23I am gone like a shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust.

24My knees give way from fasting, and my skin is lean, deprived of oil.

24My knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt, with no fat.

25I have become an object of derision to them— they shake their heads whenever they see me.

25I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads.

26Help me, LORD my God! Deliver me in accord with your gracious love!

26Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to your steadfast love!

27Then they will realize that your hand is in this— that you, LORD, have accomplished it.

27Let them know that this is your hand; you, O LORD, have done it!

28They will curse, but you will bless. When they attack, they will be humiliated, while your servant rejoices.

28Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!

29May my accusers be clothed with shame and wrapped in their humiliation as with a robe.

29May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

30I will give many thanks to the LORD with my mouth, praising him publicly,

30With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the midst of the throng.

31for he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to deliver him from his accusers.

31For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.