The Complaint of Someone in Trouble+

1I praise you, God; don't remain silent!

2Wicked people and liars have attacked me.

They tell lies about me,

3and they say evil things about me,

attacking me for no reason.

4They oppose me, even though I love them

and have prayed for them.+

5They pay me back evil for good

and hatred for love.

6Choose some corrupt judge to try my enemy,

and let one of his own enemies accuse him.

7May he be tried and found guilty;

may even his prayer be considered a crime!

8 May his life soon be ended;

may someone else take his job!

9May his children become orphans,

and his wife a widow!

10May his children be homeless beggars;

may they be driven from+ the ruins they live in!

11May his creditors take away all his property,

and may strangers get everything he worked for.

12May no one ever be kind to him

or care for the orphans he leaves behind.

13May all his descendants die,

and may his name be forgotten in the next generation.

14May the Lord remember the evil of his ancestors

and never forgive his mother's sins.

15May the Lord always remember their sins,

but may they themselves be completely forgotten!

16That man never thought of being kind;

he persecuted and killed

the poor, the needy, and the helpless.

17He loved to curse—may he be cursed!

He hated to give blessings—may no one bless him!

18He cursed as naturally as he dressed himself;

may his own curses soak into his body like water

and into his bones like oil!

19May they cover him like clothes

and always be around him like a belt!

20Lord, punish my enemies in that way—

those who say such evil things against me!

21But my Sovereign Lord, help me as you have promised,

and rescue me because of the goodness of your love.

22I am poor and needy;

I am hurt to the depths of my heart.

23Like an evening shadow I am about to vanish;

I am blown away like an insect.

24My knees are weak from lack of food;

I am nothing but skin and bones.

25 When people see me, they laugh at me;

they shake their heads in scorn.

26Help me, O Lord my God;

because of your constant love, save me!

27Make my enemies know

that you are the one who saves me.

28They may curse me, but you will bless me.

May my persecutors be defeated,+

and may I, your servant, be glad.

29May my enemies be covered with disgrace;

may they wear their shame like a robe.

30I will give loud thanks to the Lord;

I will praise him in the assembly of the people,

31because he defends the poor

and saves them from those who condemn them to death.