Psalm 109:15–22

15 May their sins always remain before the Lord,

that he may blot out their name from the earth.

16 For he never thought of doing a kindness,

but hounded to death the poor

and the needy and the brokenhearted.

17 He loved to pronounce a curse—

may it come back on him.

He found no pleasure in blessing—

may it be far from him.

18 He wore cursing as his garment;

it entered into his body like water,

into his bones like oil.

19 May it be like a cloak wrapped about him,

like a belt tied forever around him.

20 May this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers,

to those who speak evil of me.

21 But you, Sovereign Lord,

help me for your name’s sake;

out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.

22 For I am poor and needy,

and my heart is wounded within me.

15 Let them be before the Lord continually,

That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.

16 Because that he remembered not to shew mercy,

But persecuted the poor and needy man,

That he might even slay the broken in heart.

17 As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him:

As he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

18 As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment,

So let it come into his bowels like water,

And like oil into his bones.

19 Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him,

And for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.

20 Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the Lord,

And of them that speak evil against my soul.

21 But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for thy name’s sake:

Because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.

22 For I am poor and needy,

And my heart is wounded within me.

15 May the Lord always remember these sins,

and may his name disappear from human memory.

16 For he refused all kindness to others;

he persecuted the poor and needy,

and he hounded the brokenhearted to death.

17 He loved to curse others;

now you curse him.

He never blessed others;

now don’t you bless him.

18 Cursing is as natural to him as his clothing,

or the water he drinks,

or the rich food he eats.

19 Now may his curses return and cling to him like clothing;

may they be tied around him like a belt.”

20 May those curses become the Lord’s punishment

for my accusers who speak evil of me.

21 But deal well with me, O Sovereign Lord,

for the sake of your own reputation!

Rescue me

because you are so faithful and good.

22 For I am poor and needy,

and my heart is full of pain.

15 Let them be continually before the Lord,

That He may cut off the memory of them from the earth;

16 Because he did not remember to show mercy,

But persecuted the poor and needy man,

That he might even slay the broken in heart.

17 As he loved cursing, so let it come to him;

As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.

18 As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,

So let it enter his body like water,

And like oil into his bones.

19 Let it be to him like the garment which covers him,

And for a belt with which he girds himself continually.

20 Let this be the Lord’s reward to my accusers,

And to those who speak evil against my person.

21 But You, O God the Lord,

Deal with me for Your name’s sake;

Because Your mercy is good, deliver me.

22 For I am poor and needy,

And my heart is wounded within me.

15 Lord, always remember their sins.

Then 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

and 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 very sad.

15 Let them be before Jehovah continually,

That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth;

16 Because he remembered not to show kindness,

But persecuted the poor and needy man,

And the broken in heart, to slay them.

17 Yea, he loved cursing, and it came unto him;

And he delighted not in blessing, and it was far from him.

18 He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment,

And it came into his inward parts like water,

And like oil into his bones.

19 Let it be unto him as the raiment wherewith he covereth himself,

And for the girdle wherewith he is girded continually.

20 This is the reward of mine adversaries from Jehovah,

And of them that speak evil against my soul.

21 But deal thou with me, O Jehovah the Lord, for thy name’s sake:

Because thy lovingkindness is good, deliver thou me;

22 For I am poor and needy,

And my heart is wounded within me.

15 Let them be before Jehovah continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth: 16 Because he remembered not to shew kindness, but persecuted the afflicted and needy man, and the broken in heart, to slay him. 17 And he loved cursing; so let it come unto him. And he delighted not in blessing; and let it be far from him. 18 And he clothed himself with cursing like his vestment; so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones; 19 Let it be unto him as a garment with which he covereth himself, and for a girdle wherewith he is constantly girded. 20 Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from Jehovah, and of them that speak evil against my soul.

21 But do thou for me, Jehovah, Lord, for thy name’s sake; because thy loving-kindness is good, deliver me: 22 For I am afflicted and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

15 Let their guilt and sin always remain on record 

in front of the Lord. 

Let the Lord remove every memory of himfrom the earth, 

16 because he did not remember to be kind. 

“He drove oppressed, needy, 

and brokenhearted people to their graves. 

17 He loved to put curses ⸤on others⸥, 

so he, too, was cursed. 

He did not like to bless ⸤others⸥, 

so he never received a blessing. 

18 He wore cursing as though it were clothing, 

so cursing entered his body like water 

and his bones like oil. 

19 Let cursing be his clothing, 

a belt he always wears.” 

20 This is how the Lord rewards those who accuse me, 

those who say evil things against me. 

21 O Lord Almighty, deal with me out of the goodness of your name. 

Rescue me because of your mercy. 

22 I am oppressed and needy. 

I can feel the pain in my heart. 

15 Let their sins always remain before the Lord,

and let Him erase all memory of them from the earth.

16 For he did not think to show kindness,

but pursued the afflicted, poor, and brokenhearted

in order to put them to death.

17 He loved cursing—let it fall on him;

he took no delight in blessing—let it be far from him.

18 He wore cursing like his coat—

let it enter his body like water

and go into his bones like oil.

19 Let it be like a robe he wraps around himself,

like a belt he always wears.

20 Let this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers,

to those who speak evil against me.

21 But You, Yahweh my Lord,

deal kindly with me because of Your name;

deliver me because of the goodness of Your faithful love.

22 For I am afflicted and needy;

my heart is wounded within me.

15 Let them be before the Lord continually,

and may his memory be cut off from the earth.

16 For he did not remember to show kindness

but pursued the poor and needy

and the brokenhearted to their death.

17 He loved to curse; let curses come on him.

He did not like blessing; may it be far from him.

18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat;

may it soak into his body like water,

like oil into his bones.

19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around himself,

like a belt that he wears every day.”

20 May that be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,

of those who speak evil against my life.

21 But you, O Lord my Lord,

act on my behalf for your name’s sake;

because your steadfast love is good, deliver me.

22 For I am poor and needy,

and my heart is pierced within me.

15 Let them be before Yahweh continually,

that he may cut off their memory from the earth,

16 because he did not remember to show loyal love,

but he pursued anyone, poor or needy

or brokenhearted, to slay them.

17 Because he loved cursing, let it come upon him.

Because he did not delight in blessing,

let it be far from him.

18 Because he wore a curse as his robe,

let it enter his body like water,

and into his bones like oil.

19 May it be for him like a garment in which he wraps,

and a belt he continually wears.

20 Let this be the punishment for my accusers from Yahweh,

even those who speak evil against my life.

21 But you, O Yahweh my Lord,

deal with me for your name’s sake.

Because your loyal love is good, deliver me,

22 for I am poor and needy,

and my heart is wounded within me.

15 May the Lord never forget their sins.

Then he won’t let people remember those sinners anymore.

16 They never thought about doing anything kind.

Instead, they drove those who were poor and needy to their deaths.

They did the same thing to those whose hearts were broken.

17 They loved to call down curses on others.

May their curses come back on them.

They didn’t find any pleasure in giving anyone their blessing.

May no blessing ever come to them.

18 They called down curses on others as easily as they put on clothes.

Cursing was as natural to them as getting a drink of water

or putting olive oil on their bodies.

19 May their curses cover them like coats.

May their curses be wrapped around them like a belt forever.

20 May that be the Lord’s way of paying back

those who bring charges against me.

May it happen to those who say

evil things about me.

21 But Lord and King,

be true to your name. Treat me well.

Because your love is so good, save me.

22 I am poor and needy.

My heart is wounded deep down inside me.

15 Let them be before the Lord continually,

That He may cut off their memory from the earth;

16 Because he did not remember to show lovingkindness,

But persecuted the afflicted and needy man,

And the despondent in heart, to put them to death.

17 He also loved cursing, so it came to him;

And he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.

18 But he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,

And it entered into his body like water

And like oil into his bones.

19 Let it be to him as a garment with which he covers himself,

And for a belt with which he constantly girds himself.

20 Let this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,

And of those who speak evil against my soul.

21 But You, O God, the Lord, deal kindly with me for Your name’s sake;

Because Your lovingkindness is good, deliver me;

22 For I am afflicted and needy,

And my heart is wounded within me.