Psalm 109:1-31 ERV

[1] God, I praise you! Hear my prayer and do something! [2] Wicked people are telling lies about me. They are saying things that are not true. [3] They are saying hateful things about me. They are attacking me for no reason. [4] I loved them, but they were against me. So I said a prayer. [5] I did good things to them, but they are doing bad things to me. I loved them, but they hated me. [6] They said, "Choose someone evil to represent him. Let the one at his side really be his accuser. [7] Let even his prayer be used as evidence against him, and let the court find him guilty. [8] Let his life be cut short, and let someone else take over his work. [9] Let his children become orphans and his wife a widow. [10] Make his children wander around as beggars, forced from homes that lie in ruins. [11] Let the people he owes take everything he owns. Let strangers get everything he worked for. [12] Let no one be kind to him. Let no one show mercy to his children. [13] May his family come to an end. May his name be unknown to future generations. [14] May the LORD remember the sins of his father, and may his mother's sins never be erased. [15] May the LORD remember their sins forever, and may he cause people to forget his family completely. [16] He never did anything good. He never loved anyone. He made life hard for the poor and the helpless. [17] He loved to curse others, so let those bad things happen to him. He never blessed others, so don't let good things happen to him. [18] Cursing was a daily part of his life, like the clothes he wears. Cursing others became a part of him, like the water he drinks and the oil he puts on his body. [19] So let curses cover him like the robe he wears and always surround him like a belt." [20] My enemies said these evil things against me. But may those curses be the way the LORD punishes them. [21] My Lord GOD, treat me in a way that brings honor to your name. Save me because of your faithful love. [22] I am only a poor, helpless man. I am so sad; my heart is broken. [23] I feel my life is over, fading like a shadow at day's end. I feel like a bug that someone brushed away. [24] My knees are weak from fasting. I have lost weight and become thin. [25] My enemies insult me. They look at me and shake their heads. [26] LORD my God, help me! Show your faithful love and save me! [27] Then they will know that you did it. They will know that it was your power, LORD, that helped me. [28] They curse me, but you can bless me. They attacked me, so defeat them. Then I, your servant, will be happy. [29] Humiliate my enemies! Let them wear their shame like a coat. [30] I give thanks to the LORD. I praise him in front of everyone. [31] He stands by the helpless and saves them from those who try to put them to death.