For the music director, a psalm of David.

109:1 O God whom I praise, do not ignore me!
109:2 For they say cruel and deceptive things to me;
they lie to me.
109:3 They surround me and say hateful things;
they attack me for no reason.
109:4 They repay my love with accusations,
but I continue to pray.
109:5 They repay me evil for good,
and hate for love.
109:6  Appoint an evil man to testify against him!
May an accuser stand at his right side!
109:7 When he is judged, he will be found guilty!
Then his prayer will be regarded as sinful.
109:8 May his days be few!
May another take his job!
109:9 May his children be fatherless,
and his wife a widow!
109:10 May his children roam around begging,
asking for handouts as they leave their ruined home!
109:11 May the creditor seize all he owns!
May strangers loot his property!
109:12 May no one show him kindness!
May no one have compassion on his fatherless children!

Imagine verses 9-12 being offered as the opening prayer at a prayer meeting!  How many would respond with a hearty ‘Amen’?

109:13 May his descendants be cut off!
May the memory of them be wiped out by the time the next generation arrives!
109:14 May his ancestors’ sins be remembered by the LORD!
May his mother’s sin not be forgotten!
109:15 May the LORD be constantly aware of them,
and cut off the memory of his children from the earth!
109:16 For he never bothered to show kindness;
he harassed the oppressed and needy,
and killed the disheartened.
109:17 He loved to curse others, so those curses have come upon him.
He had no desire to bless anyone, so he has experienced no blessings.
109:18 He made cursing a way of life,
so curses poured into his stomach like water
and seeped into his bones like oil.
109:19 May a curse attach itself to him, like a garment one puts on,
or a belt one wears continually!
109:20 May the LORD repay my accusers in this way,
those who say evil things about me!
109:21 O sovereign LORD,
intervene on my behalf for the sake of your reputation!
Because your loyal love is good, deliver me!
109:22 For I am oppressed and needy,
and my heart beats violently within me.
109:23 I am fading away like a shadow at the end of the day;
I am shaken off like a locust.
109:24 I am so starved my knees shake;
I have turned into skin and bones.
109:25 I am disdained by them.
When they see me, they shake their heads.
109:26 Help me, O LORD my God!
Because you are faithful to me, deliver me!
109:27 Then they will realize this is your work,
and that you, LORD, have accomplished it.
109:28 They curse, but you will bless.
When they attack, they will be humiliated,
but your servant will rejoice.
109:29 My accusers will be covered with shame,
and draped in humiliation as if it were a robe.
109:30 I will thank the LORD profusely,
in the middle of a crowd I will praise him,
109:31 because he stands at the right hand of the needy,
to deliver him from those who threaten his life.