1
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For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, be not silent. |
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2
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For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me; they speak against me with lying tongues. |
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3
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They surround me with hateful words and attack me without cause. |
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4
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In return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. |
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5
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They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my love. |
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6
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Set over him a wicked man; let an accuser stand at his right hand. |
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7
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When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayer be regarded as sin. |
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8
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May his days be few; may another take his position. |
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9
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May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. |
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10
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May his children wander as beggars, seeking sustenance far from their ruined homes. |
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11
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May the creditor seize all he owns, and strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. |
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12
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May there be no one to extend kindness to him, and no one to favor his fatherless children. |
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13
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May his descendants be cut off; may their name be blotted out from the next generation. |
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14
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May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, and the sin of his mother never be blotted out. |
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15
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May their sins always remain before the LORD, that He may cut off their memory from the earth. |
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16
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For he never thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and brokenhearted, even to their death. |
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17
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The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him. |
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18
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The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil. |
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19
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May it be like a robe wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him. |
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20
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May this be the LORD’s reward to my accusers, to those who speak evil against me. |
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21
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But You, O GOD, the Lord, deal kindly with me for the sake of Your name; deliver me by the goodness of Your loving devotion. |
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22
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For I am poor and needy; my heart is wounded within me. |
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23
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I am fading away like a lengthening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust. |
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24
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My knees are weak from fasting, and my body grows lean and gaunt. |
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25
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I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads. |
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26
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Help me, O LORD my God; save me according to Your loving devotion. |
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27
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Let them know that this is Your hand, that You, O LORD, have done it. |
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28
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Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice. |
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29
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May my accusers be clothed with disgrace; may they wear their shame like a robe. |
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30
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With my mouth I will thank the LORD profusely; I will praise Him in the presence of many. |
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31
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For He stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from the condemners of his soul. |
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