Psalm 109-111

New International Reader's Version

⁶ Appoint an evil person to take my enemies to court.
    Let him stand at their right hand and bring charges against them.
⁷ When they are tried, let them be found guilty.
    May even their prayers judge them.
⁸ May their days be few.
    Let others take their places as leaders.
⁹ May their children’s fathers die.
    May their wives become widows.
¹⁰ May their children be driven from their destroyed homes.
    May they wander around like beggars.
¹¹ May everything those people own be taken away to pay for what they owe.
    May strangers rob them of everything they’ve worked for.
¹² May no one be kind to them
    or take pity on the children they leave behind.
¹³ May their family line come to an end.
    May their names be forgotten by those who live after them.
¹⁴ May the Lord remember the evil things their fathers have done.
    May he never erase the sins of their mothers.
¹⁵ May the Lord never forget their sins.
    Then he won’t let people remember the names of my enemies 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 curse 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 cursed 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,
    help me so that you bring honor to yourself.
    Because your love is so good, save me.
²² I am poor and needy.
    My heart is wounded deep down inside me.
²³ I fade away like an evening shadow.
    I’m like a locust that someone brushes off.
²⁴ My knees are weak because I’ve gone without food.
    My body is very thin.
²⁵ Those who bring charges against me laugh at me.
    When they see me, they shake their heads at me.

²⁶ Lord my God, help me.
    Save me because of your faithful love.
²⁷ Lord, let my enemies know that you yourself have saved me.
    You have done it with your own hand.
²⁸ They may curse me.
    But may you bless me.
May those who attack me be put to shame.
    But may I be filled with joy.
²⁹ May those who bring charges against me be clothed with dishonor.
    May they be wrapped in shame as if it were a coat.

³⁰ With my mouth I will continually praise the Lord.
    I will praise him when all his people gather for worship.
³¹ He stands ready to help those who need it.
    He saves them from those who are ready to sentence them to death.

² The Lord will make your royal authority spread out from Zion to other lands.
    He says, “Rule over your enemies who are all around you.”
³ Your troops will be willing to fight for you
    on the day of battle.
Your young men will be wrapped in holy majesty.
    They will come to you like the fresh dew that falls early in the morning.

⁴ The Lord has made a promise.
    He will not change his mind.
He has said, “You are a priest forever,
    just like Melchizedek.”

⁵ The Lord is at your right hand.
    He will crush kings on the day when he is angry.
⁶ He will judge the nations. He will pile up dead bodies on the field of battle.
    He will crush the rulers of the whole earth.
⁷ He will drink from a brook along the way and receive new strength.
    And so he will win the battle.

111 Praise the Lord.

I will praise the Lord with all my heart.
    I will praise him where honest people gather for worship.

² The Lord has done great things.
    All who take delight in those things think deeply about them.
³ What he does shows his glory and majesty.
    He will always do what is right.
⁴ The Lord causes his wonders to be remembered.
    He is kind and tender.
⁵ He provides food for those who have respect for him.
    He remembers his covenant forever.
⁶ He has shown his people what his power can do.
    He has given them the lands of other nations.
⁷ He is faithful and right in everything he does.
    All his rules can be trusted.
⁸ They will stand firm for ever and ever.
    They were given by the Lord.
    He is faithful and honest.
⁹ He set his people free.
    He made a covenant with them that will last forever.
    His name is holy and wonderful.

¹⁰ If you really want to become wise,
    you must begin by having respect for the Lord.
All those who follow his rules have good understanding.
    People should praise him forever.