A Prayer Against an Enemy
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 God, I praise you.
Do not be silent.
2 ·Wicked [The mouth of evil] people and ·liars [the mouth of deceivers] have ·spoken [opened] against me;
they ·have told lies about me [speak against me with lying tongues].
3 They have ·said hateful things about me [surrounded me with hateful words]
and attack me for no reason.
4 They ·attacked [accuse; charge] me, ·even though I loved them
and prayed for them [in return for my love and prayer].
5 I was good to them, but they ·repay [reward] me with evil.
I loved them, but they hate me in return.
6 They say about me [this added phrase suggests another speaker, or perhaps the psalmist is speaking about his accusers], “·Have an evil person work [Appoint an evil person] against him,
and let an ·accuser [adversary] stand ·against him [at his right hand; Job 1:6].
7 When he is judged, let him be found guilty,
and let even his prayers ·show [be counted as] his ·guilt [sin].
8 Let his ·life [days] be ·cut short [brief],
and let another man ·replace him as leader [take his position/office; Acts 1:20].
9 Let his children become orphans
and his wife a widow [socially vulnerable, dependent on others].
10 Make his children wander around, begging for food [Jer. 18:21].
Let them be forced out of the ruins in which they live.
11 Let ·the people to whom he owes money [creditors] ·take [ensnare] everything he owns [2 Kin. 4:1],
and let strangers ·steal [plunder] everything he has worked for.
12 Let no one ·show [extend to] him ·love [loyalty]
or have ·mercy [compassion] on his orphaned children.
13 Let all his descendants ·die [be cut off]
and ·be forgotten [their name be blotted/wiped out] by ·those who live after him [a later generation].
14 Lord, ·remember how wicked his ancestors were [let the guilt of his fathers be remembered],
and don’t let the sins of his mother be ·wiped [blotted] out.
15 ·Lord, always remember their sins [Let them be before the Lord forever].
·Then make people forget about them completely [Let memory of them be cut off from the land].
16 “He did not remember to be ·loving [loyal].
He ·hurt [persecuted; pursued] the poor, the needy, and those who were ·sad [depressed; brokenhearted]
·until they were nearly dead [to their death].
17 He loved to put curses on others,
so let those same curses ·fall on [come to] him.
He did not like to bless others,
so ·do not let good things happen to him [let them (blessings) be far from him].
18 He ·cursed others as often as he wore clothes [wore curses like a coat].
·Cursing others filled his body and his life,
like drinking water and using olive oil [Let them come like water in his innards and like oil in his bones].
19 So let curses ·cover [wrap] him like ·clothes [a garment]
and ·wrap around him like a belt [continually gird him].”
20 May the Lord do these things to those who ·accuse [charge] me,
to those who speak evil against me.
21 But you, Lord God,
·be kind to me so others will know you are good [act on my behalf for the sake of your name].
Because your ·love [loyalty] is good, ·save [protect] me.
22 I am poor and helpless
and ·very sad [my heart is pierced/wounded in me].
23 I am ·dying [gone] like an evening shadow;
I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees ·are weak [buckle; stumble] from fasting,
and ·I have grown thin [my flesh is lean of fat].
25 ·My enemies insult me [I am a reproach to them];
they look at me and shake their heads [in scorn].
26 Lord my God, help me;
because you are ·loving [loyal], ·save me [give me victory].
27 Then they will know that ·your power has done this [this is your hand];
they will know that you have done it, Lord.
28 They may curse me, but you bless me.
They may ·attack [rise against] me, but they will be ·disgraced [embarrassed].
Then I, your servant, will be glad.
29 Let those who ·accuse [charge; attack] me be ·disgraced [clothed with disgrace]
and ·covered [wrapped up] with shame like a coat.
30 I will ·thank [praise] the Lord very much [L with my mouth];
I will praise him in ·front [the midst] of many people.
31 He ·defends [stands at the right hand of] the helpless
and ·saves them from [gives them victory over] those who ·accuse [judge] them.
— Psalm 109 | Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Cross References: Genesis 4:12; Exodus 10:19; Exodus 20:5; Exodus 22:24; Numbers 5:22; Deuteronomy 9:14; Deuteronomy 10:21; 2 Samuel 16:11; 2 Samuel 22:40; Ezra 7:28; Nehemiah 5:7; Job 8:22; Job 18:17; Job 24:12; Psalm 1:5; Psalm 7:4; Psalm 16:8; Psalm 22:22; Psalm 23:3; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 51:5; Psalm 109:28; Jeremiah 18:21; Zechariah 3:1; Matthew 7:2; Matthew 27:39; John 7:7; John 15:25; Acts 1:20; 2 Timothy 4:14; Hebrews 12:12
Commentary on Psalms 109 by Matthew Henry
