Psalm 109:1-31 ICB

[1] God, I praise you. Do not be silent. [2] Wicked people and liars have spoken against me. They have told lies about me. [3] They have said hateful things about me. They attack me for no reason. [4] They attacked me, even though I loved them and prayed for them. [5] I was good to them, but they repay me with evil. I loved them, but they hate me in return. [6] They say about me, "Have the Evil One work against him. Let the devil accuse him. [7] When he is judged, let him be found guilty. Let even his prayers show that he is guilty. [8] Let his life be cut short. Let another man replace him as leader. [9] Let his children become orphans. Let his wife become a widow. [10] Make his children wander around, begging for food. Let them be forced out of the ruins they live in. [11] Let the people he owes money to take everything he owns. Let strangers steal everything he has worked for. [12] Let no one show him love. Let no one have mercy on his children. [13] Let all his descendants die. Let him be forgotten by people who live after him. [14] Let the Lord remember how wicked his ancestors were. Don't let the sins of his mother be wiped out. [15] Let the Lord always remember their sins. Then he will make people forget about them completely. [16] "He did not remember to be loving. He hurt the poor, the needy and those who were sad until they were nearly dead. [17] He loved to put curses on others. So let those same curses fall on him. He did not like to bless others. So do not let good things happen to him. [18] He cursed others as often as he wore clothes. Cursing others filled his body and his life, like drinking water and using olive oil. [19] So let curses cover him like clothes. Let them wrap around him like a belt." [20] May the Lord do these things to those who accuse me, to those who speak evil against me. [21] But you, Lord God, be kind to me so others will know you are good. Because your love is good, save me. [22] I am poor and helpless. And I am very sad. [23] I am dying like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust. [24] My knees are weak from hunger. I have become thin. [25] My enemies insult me. They look at me and shake their heads. [26] Lord my God, help me. Because you are loving, save me. [27] Then they will know that you have saved me. They will know it was your power, Lord. [28] They may curse me, but you bless me. They may attack me, but they will be disgraced. Then I, your servant, will be glad. [29] Let those who accuse me be disgraced. Let them be covered with shame like a coat. [30] I will thank the Lord very much. I will praise him in front of many people. [31] He defends the helpless. He saved me from those who accuse me.