72 lines
2.7 KiB
Markdown
72 lines
2.7 KiB
Markdown
# Chapter 109
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1 O God, whom I praise,
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don’t stand silent and aloof
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2 while the wicked slander me
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and tell lies about me.
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3 They surround me with hateful words
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and fight against me for no reason.
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4 I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations
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even as I am praying for them!
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5 They repay evil for good,
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and hatred for my love.
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6 They say, “Get an evil person to turn against him.
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Send an accuser to bring him to trial.
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7 When his case comes up for judgment,
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let him be pronounced guilty.
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Count his prayers as sins.
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8 Let his years be few;
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let someone else take his position.
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9 May his children become fatherless,
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and his wife a widow.
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10 May his children wander as beggars
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and be driven from their ruined homes.
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11 May creditors seize his entire estate,
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and strangers take all he has earned.
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12 Let no one be kind to him;
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let no one pity his fatherless children.
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13 May all his offspring die.
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May his family name be blotted out in the next generation.
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14 May the Lord never forget the sins of his fathers;
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may his mother’s sins never be erased from the record.
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15 May the Lord always remember these sins,
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and may his name disappear from human memory.
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16 For he refused all kindness to others;
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he persecuted the poor and needy,
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and he hounded the brokenhearted to death.
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17 He loved to curse others;
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now you curse him.
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He never blessed others;
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now don’t you bless him.
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18 Cursing is as natural to him as his clothing,
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or the water he drinks,
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or the rich food he eats.
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19 Now may his curses return and cling to him like clothing;
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may they be tied around him like a belt.”
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20 May those curses become the Lord’s punishment
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for my accusers who speak evil of me.
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21 But deal well with me, O Sovereign Lord,
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for the sake of your own reputation!
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Rescue me
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because you are so faithful and good.
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22 For I am poor and needy,
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and my heart is full of pain.
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23 I am fading like a shadow at dusk;
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I am brushed off like a locust.
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24 My knees are weak from fasting,
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and I am skin and bones.
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25 I am a joke to people everywhere;
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when they see me, they shake their heads in scorn.
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26 Help me, O Lord my God!
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Save me because of your unfailing love.
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27 Let them see that this is your doing,
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that you yourself have done it, Lord.
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28 Then let them curse me if they like,
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but you will bless me!
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When they attack me, they will be disgraced!
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But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing!
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29 May my accusers be clothed with disgrace;
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may their humiliation cover them like a cloak.
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30 But I will give repeated thanks to the Lord,
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praising him to everyone.
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31 For he stands beside the needy,
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ready to save them from those who condemn them. |