109 1 David being falsely accused by flatterers unto Saul, prayeth God to help him, and to destroy his enemies. 8 And under them he speaketh of Judas the traitor unto Jesus Christ, and of all the like enemies of the children of God: 27 And desireth so to be delivered, that his enemies may know the work to be of God. 30 Then doth he promise to give praise unto God.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of David.
1 Hold not thy tongue, O God of my [a]praise.
2 For the mouth of the wicked, and the mouth full of deceit are opened upon me: they have spoken to me with a lying tongue.
3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
4 For my friendship they were my adversaries, [b]but I gave myself to prayer.
5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.
6 [c]Set thou the wicked over him, and let the adversary stand at his right hand.
7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned, and let his [d]prayer be turned into sin.
8 Let his days be few, and let another take his [e]charge.
9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10 Let his children be vagabonds, and beg and seek bread, coming out of their places destroyed.
11 Let [f]the extortioner catch all that he hath, and let the strangers spoil his labor.
12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to show mercy upon his fatherless children.
13 Let his posterity be destroyed, and in the generation following, let their name be put out.
14 [g]Let the iniquity of his fathers be had in remembrance with the Lord: and let not the sin of his mother be done away.
15 But let them always be before the Lord, that he may cut off their memorial from the earth.
16 Because [h]he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the afflicted and poor man, and the sorrowful hearted to slay him.
17 As he loved cursing, [i]so shall it come unto him, and as he loved not blessing, so shall it be far from him.
18 As he clothed himself with cursing like a raiment, so shall it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
19 Let it be unto him as a garment to cover him, and for a girdle, wherewith he shall be always girded.
20 Let this be the reward of mine adversary [j]from the Lord, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
21 But thou, O Lord my God, deal with me according unto thy [k]Name: deliver me, (for thy mercy is good)
22 Because I am poor and needy, and mine heart is wounded within me.
23 I depart like the shadow that declineth, and am shaken off as the [l]grasshopper.
24 My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh [m]hath lost all fatness.
25 I became also a rebuke unto them: they that looked upon me, shaked their heads.
26 Help me, O Lord my God: [n]save me according to thy mercy.
27 And they shall know that this is thine hand, and that thou, Lord, hast done it.
28 Though [o]they curse, yet thou wilt bless: they shall arise and be confounded, but thy servant shall rejoice.
29 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their confusion as with a cloak.
30 I will give thanks unto the Lord greatly with my [p]mouth, and praise him among the multitude.
31 For he will stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from them that would [q]condemn his soul.
Footnotes
- Psalm 109:1 Though all the world condemn me, yet thou wilt approve mine innocence, and that is a sufficient praise to me.
- Psalm 109:4 To declare that I had no other refuge, but thee, in whom my conscience was at rest.
- Psalm 109:6 Whether it were Doeg, or Saul, or some familiar friend that had betrayed him, he prayeth not of private affection, but moved by God’s Spirit, that God would take vengeance upon him.
- Psalm 109:7 As to the elect all things turn to their profit: so to the reprobate, even those things that are good, turn to their damnation.
- Psalm 109:8 This was chiefly accomplished in Judas, Acts 1:20.
- Psalm 109:11 He declareth that the curse of God lieth upon the extortioners, who thinking to enrich their children by their unlawfull gotten goods, are by God’s just judgment deprived of all.
- Psalm 109:14 Thus punisheth the Lord to the third and fourth generation the wickedness of the parents in their wicked children.
- Psalm 109:16 He showeth that God accustometh to plague them after a strange sort that show themselves cruel toward others.
- Psalm 109:17 Thus giveth the Lord to every man the thing wherein he delighteth, that the reprobate cannot accuse God of wrong, when they are given up to their lusts and reprobate minds.
- Psalm 109:20 For being destitute of man’s help, he fully trusted in the Lord, that he would deliver him.
- Psalm 109:21 As thou art named merciful, gracious and long suffering, so show thyself in effect.
- Psalm 109:23 Meaning, that he hath no stay nor assurance in this world.
- Psalm 109:24 For hunger, that came of sorrow, he was lean, and his natural moisture failed him.
- Psalm 109:26 The more grievously Satan assailed him, the more earnest and instant was he in prayer.
- Psalm 109:28 They shall gain nothing by cursing me.
- Psalm 109:30 Not only in confessing it secretly in myself, but also in declaring it before all the congregation.
- Psalm 109:31 Hereby he showeth that he had not to do with them that were of little power, but with the judges and princes of the world.