Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Psalms » Chapter 109 » Verse 1-31

Psalms 109:1-31 King James Version (KJV)

1 Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;

2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

3 They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.

4 For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.

5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

6 Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.

7 When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.

8 Let his days be few; and let another take his office.

9 Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.

10 Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.

11 Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.

12 Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.

13 Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.

14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.

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.

23 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.

24 My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.

25 I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.

26 Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:

27 That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it.

28 Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.

29 Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.

30 I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.

31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.


Psalms 109:1-31 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 [[To the chief Musician, H5329 A Psalm H4210 of David.]] H1732 Hold not thy peace, H2790 O God H430 of my praise; H8416

2 For the mouth H6310 of the wicked H7563 and the mouth H6310 of the deceitful H4820 are opened H6605 against me: they have spoken H1696 against me with a lying H8267 tongue. H3956

3 They compassed H5437 me about also with words H1697 of hatred; H8135 and fought H3898 against me without a cause. H2600

4 For my love H160 they are my adversaries: H7853 but I give myself unto prayer. H8605

5 And they have rewarded H7760 me evil H7451 for good, H2896 and hatred H8135 for my love. H160

6 Set H6485 thou a wicked man H7563 over him: and let Satan H7854 stand H5975 at his right hand. H3225

7 When he shall be judged, H8199 let him be H3318 condemned: H7563 and let his prayer H8605 become sin. H2401

8 Let his days H3117 be few; H4592 and let another H312 take H3947 his office. H6486

9 Let his children H1121 be fatherless, H3490 and his wife H802 a widow. H490

10 Let his children H1121 be continually H5128 vagabonds, H5128 and beg: H7592 let them seek H1875 their bread also out of their desolate places. H2723

11 Let the extortioner H5383 catch H5367 all that he hath; and let the strangers H2114 spoil H962 his labour. H3018

12 Let there be none to extend H4900 mercy H2617 unto him: neither let there be any to favour H2603 his fatherless children. H3490

13 Let his posterity H319 be cut off; H3772 and in the generation H1755 following H312 let their name H8034 be blotted out. H4229

14 Let the iniquity H5771 of his fathers H1 be remembered H2142 with the LORD; H3068 and let not the sin H2403 of his mother H517 be blotted out. H4229

15 Let them be before the LORD H3068 continually, H8548 that he may cut off H3772 the memory H2143 of them from the earth. H776

16 Because that he remembered H2142 not to shew H6213 mercy, H2617 but persecuted H7291 the poor H6041 and needy H34 man, H376 that he might even slay H4191 the broken H3512 in heart. H3824

17 As he loved H157 cursing, H7045 so let it come H935 unto him: as he delighted H2654 not in blessing, H1293 so let it be far H7368 from him.

18 As he clothed H3847 himself with cursing H7045 like as with his garment, H4055 so let it come H935 into his bowels H7130 like water, H4325 and like oil H8081 into his bones. H6106

19 Let it be unto him as the garment H899 which covereth H5844 him, and for a girdle H4206 wherewith he is girded H2296 continually. H8548

20 Let this be the reward H6468 of mine adversaries H7853 from the LORD, H3068 and of them that speak H1696 evil H7451 against my soul. H5315

21 But do H6213 thou for me, O GOD H3069 the Lord, H136 for thy name's H8034 sake: because thy mercy H2617 is good, H2896 deliver H5337 thou me.

22 For I am poor H6041 and needy, H34 and my heart H3820 is wounded H2490 within H7130 me.

23 I am gone H1980 like the shadow H6738 when it declineth: H5186 I am tossed up and down H5287 as the locust. H697

24 My knees H1290 are weak H3782 through fasting; H6685 and my flesh H1320 faileth H3584 of fatness. H8081

25 I became also a reproach H2781 unto them: when they looked H7200 upon me they shaked H5128 their heads. H7218

26 Help H5826 me, O LORD H3068 my God: H430 O save H3467 me according to thy mercy: H2617

27 That they may know H3045 that this is thy hand; H3027 that thou, LORD, H3068 hast done H6213 it.

28 Let them curse, H7043 but bless H1288 thou: when they arise, H6965 let them be ashamed; H954 but let thy servant H5650 rejoice. H8055

29 Let mine adversaries H7853 be clothed H3847 with shame, H3639 and let them cover H5844 themselves with their own confusion, H1322 as with a mantle. H4598

30 I will greatly H3966 praise H3034 the LORD H3068 with my mouth; H6310 yea, I will praise H1984 him among H8432 the multitude. H7227

31 For he shall stand H5975 at the right hand H3225 of the poor, H34 to save H3467 him from those that condemn H8199 his soul. H5315


Psalms 109:1-31 American Standard (ASV)

1 Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;

2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit have they opened against me: They have spoken unto me with a lying tongue.

3 They have compassed me about also with words of hatred, And fought against me without a cause.

4 For my love they are my adversaries: But I `give myself unto' prayer.

5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love.

6 Set thou a wicked man over him; And let an adversary stand at his right hand.

7 When he is judged, let him come forth guilty; And let his prayer be turned into sin.

8 Let his days be few; `And' let another take his office.

9 Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow.

10 Let his children be vagabonds, and beg; And let them seek `their bread' out of their desolate places.

11 Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; And let strangers make spoil of his labor.

12 Let there be none to extend kindness unto him; Neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.

13 Let his posterity be cut off; In the generation following let their name be blotted out.

14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with Jehovah; And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.

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.

23 I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.

24 My knees are weak through fasting; And my flesh faileth of fatness.

25 I am become also a reproach unto them: When they see me, they shake their head.

26 Help me, O Jehovah my God; Oh save me according to thy lovingkindness:

27 That they may know that this is thy hand; `That' thou, Jehovah, hast done it.

28 Let them curse, but bless thou: When they arise, they shall be put to shame, But thy servant shall rejoice.

29 Let mine adversaries be clothed with dishonor, And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

30 I will give great thanks unto Jehovah with my mouth; Yea, I will praise him among the multitude.

31 For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, To save him from them that judge his soul. Psalm 110 A Psalm of David.


Psalms 109:1-31 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 To the Overseer. -- A Psalm of David. O God of my praise, be not silent,

2 For the mouth of wickedness, and the mouth of deceit, Against me they have opened, They have spoken with me -- A tongue of falsehood, and words of hatred!

3 They have compassed me about, And they fight me without cause.

4 For my love they oppose me, and I -- prayer!

5 And they set against me evil for good, And hatred for my love.

6 Appoint Thou over him the wicked, And an adversary standeth at his right hand.

7 In his being judged, he goeth forth wicked, And his prayer is for sin.

8 His days are few, his oversight another taketh,

9 His sons are fatherless, and his wife a widow.

10 And wander continually do his sons, Yea, they have begged, And have sought out of their dry places.

11 An exactor layeth a snare for all that he hath, And strangers spoil his labour.

12 He hath none to extend kindness, Nor is there one showing favour to his orphans.

13 His posterity is for cutting off, In another generation is their name blotted out.

14 The iniquity of his fathers Is remembered unto Jehovah, And the sin of his mother is not blotted out.

15 They are before Jehovah continually, And He cutteth off from earth their memorial.

16 Because that he hath not remembered to do kindness, And pursueth the poor man and needy, And the smitten of heart -- to slay,

17 And he loveth reviling, and it meeteth him, And he hath not delighted in blessing, And it is far from him.

18 And he putteth on reviling as his robe, And it cometh in as water into his midst, And as oil into his bones.

19 It is to him as apparel -- he covereth himself, And for a continual girdle he girdeth it on.

20 This `is' the wage of mine accusers from Jehovah, And of those speaking evil against my soul.

21 And Thou, O Jehovah Lord, Deal with me for Thy name's sake, Because Thy kindness `is' good, deliver me.

22 For I `am' poor and needy, And my heart hath been pierced in my midst.

23 As a shadow when it is stretched out I have gone, I have been driven away as a locust.

24 My knees have been feeble from fasting, And my flesh hath failed of fatness.

25 And I -- I have been a reproach to them, They see me, they shake their head.

26 Help me, O Jehovah my God, Save me, according to Thy kindness.

27 And they know that this `is' Thy hand, Thou, O Jehovah, Thou hast done it.

28 They revile, and Thou dost bless, They have risen, and are ashamed, And Thy servant doth rejoice.

29 Mine accusers put on blushing, and are covered, As an upper robe `is' their shame.

30 I thank Jehovah greatly with my mouth, And in the midst of many I praise Him,

31 For He standeth at the right hand of the needy, To save from those judging his soul.


Psalms 109:1-31 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 {To the chief Musician. Of David. A Psalm.} O God of my praise, be not silent:

2 For the mouth of the wicked [man] and the mouth of deceit are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue,

3 And with words of hatred have they encompassed me; and they fight against me without a cause.

4 For my love they are mine adversaries; but I [give myself unto] prayer.

5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.

6 Set a wicked [man] over him, and let [the] adversary stand at his right hand;

7 When he shall be judged, let him go out guilty, and let his prayer become sin;

8 Let his days be few, let another take his office;

9 Let his sons be fatherless, and his wife a widow;

10 Let his sons be vagabonds and beg, and let them seek [their bread] far from their desolate places;

11 Let the usurer cast the net over all that he hath, and let strangers despoil his labour;

12 Let there be none to extend kindness unto him, neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children;

13 Let his posterity be cut off; in the generation following let their name be blotted out:

14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with Jehovah, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out;

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.

23 I am gone like a shadow when it lengtheneth; I am tossed about like the locust;

24 My knees are failing through fasting, and my flesh hath lost its fatness;

25 And I am become a reproach unto them; [when] they look upon me they shake their heads.

26 Help me, Jehovah my God; save me according to thy loving-kindness:

27 That they may know that this is thy hand; that *thou*, Jehovah, hast done it.

28 Let *them* curse, but bless *thou*; when they rise up, let them be ashamed, and let thy servant rejoice.

29 Let mine adversaries be clothed with confusion, and let them cover themselves with their shame as with a mantle.

30 I will greatly celebrate Jehovah with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.

31 For he standeth at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those that judge his soul.


Psalms 109:1-31 World English Bible (WEB)

1 > God of my praise, don't remain silent,

2 For they have opened the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit against me. They have spoken to me with a lying tongue.

3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And fought against me without a cause.

4 In return for my love, they are my adversaries; But I am in prayer.

5 They have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love.

6 Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand.

7 When he is judged, let him come forth guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin.

8 Let his days be few. Let another take his office.

9 Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow.

10 Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins.

11 Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.

12 Let there be none to extend kindness to him, Neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.

13 Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out.

14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by Yahweh. Don't let the sin of his mother be blotted out.

15 Let them be before Yahweh continually, That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth;

16 Because he didn't remember to show kindness, But persecuted the poor and needy man, The broken in heart, to kill them.

17 Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn't delight in blessing, and it was far from him.

18 He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, Like oil into his bones.

19 Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself, For the belt that is always around him.

20 This is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh, Of those who speak evil against my soul.

21 But deal with me, Yahweh the Lord, for your name's sake, Because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;

22 For I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me.

23 I fade away like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust.

24 My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat.

25 I have also become a reproach to them. When they see me, they shake their head.

26 Help me, Yahweh, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness;

27 That they may know that this is your hand; That you, Yahweh, have done it.

28 They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, But your servant shall rejoice.

29 Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.

30 I will give great thanks to Yahweh with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.

31 For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, To save him from those who judge his soul.


Psalms 109:1-31 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 <To the chief music-maker. Of David. A Psalm.> God of my praise, let my prayer be answered;

2 For the mouth of the sinner is open against me in deceit: his tongue has said false things against me.

3 Words of hate are round about me; they have made war against me without cause.

4 For my love they give me back hate; but I have given myself to prayer.

5 They have put on me evil for good; hate in exchange for my love.

6 Put an evil man over him; and let one be placed at his right hand to say evil of him.

7 When he is judged, let the decision go against him; and may his prayer become sin.

8 Let his life be short; let another take his position of authority.

9 Let his children have no father, and his wife be made a widow.

10 Let his children be wanderers, looking to others for their food; let them be sent away from the company of their friends.

11 Let his creditor take all his goods; and let others have the profit of his work.

12 Let no man have pity on him, or give help to his children when he is dead.

13 Let his seed be cut off; in the coming generation let their name go out of memory.

14 Let the Lord keep in mind the wrongdoing of his fathers; and may the sin of his mother have no forgiveness.

15 Let them be ever before the eyes of the Lord, so that the memory of them may be cut off from the earth.

16 Because he had no mercy, but was cruel to the low and the poor, designing the death of the broken-hearted.

17 As he took pleasure in cursing, so let it come on him; and as he had no delight in blessing, let it be far from him.

18 He put on cursing like a robe, and it has come into his body like water, and into his bones like oil.

19 Let it be to him as a robe which he puts on, let it be like a band which is round him at all times.

20 Let this be the reward given to my haters from the Lord, and to those who say evil of my soul.

21 But, O Lord God, give me your help, because of your name; take me out of danger, because your mercy is good.

22 For I am poor and in need, and my heart is wounded in me.

23 I am gone like the shade when it is stretched out: I am forced out of my place like a locust.

24 My knees are feeble for need of food; there is no fat on my bones.

25 As for me, they make sport of me; shaking their heads when they see me.

26 Give me help, O Lord my God; in your mercy be my saviour;

27 So that they may see that it is the work of your hand; that you, Lord, have done it.

28 They may give curses but you give blessing; when they come up against me, put them to shame; but let your servant be glad.

29 Let my haters be clothed with shame, covering themselves with shame as with a robe.

30 I will give the Lord great praise with my mouth; yes, I will give praise to him among all the people.

31 For he is ever at the right hand of the poor, to take him out of the hands of those who go after his soul.

Commentary on Psalms 109 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


PSALM 109

Ps 109:1-31. The writer complains of his virulent enemies, on whom he imprecates God's righteous punishment, and to a prayer for a divine interposition in his behalf appends the expression of his confidence and a promise of his praises. This Psalm is remarkable for the number and severity of its imprecations. Its evident typical character (compare Ps 109:8) justifies the explanation of these already given, that as the language of David respecting his own enemies, or those of Christ, it has respect not to the penitent, but to the impenitent and implacable foes of good men, and of God and His cause, whose inevitable fate is thus indicated by inspired authority.

1. God of my praise—its object, thus recognizing God as a certain helper. Be not silent (compare Ps 17:13; 28:1).

2. For the mouth … opened—or, "They have opened a wicked mouth"

against me—literally, "with me," that is, Their intercourse is lying, or, they slander me to my face (Mt 26:59).

3. (Compare Ps 35:7; 69:4).

4, 5. They return evil for good (compare Ps 27:12; Pr 17:13).

I give myself unto prayer—or literally, "I (am) prayer," or, "as for me, prayer," that is, it is my resource for comfort in distress.

6. over him—one of his enemies prominent in malignity (Ps 55:12).

let Satan stand—as an accuser, whose place was the right hand of the accused (Zec 3:1, 2).

7. The condemnation is aggravated when prayer for relief is treated as a sin.

8. The opposite blessing is long life (Ps 91:16; Pr 3:2). The last clause is quoted as to Judas by Peter (Ac 1:20).

office—literally, "charge," Septuagint, and Peter, "oversight" [1Pe 5:2].

9, 10. Let his family share the punishment, his children be as wandering beggars to prowl in their desolate homes, a greedy and relentless creditor grasp his substance, his labor, or the fruit of it, enure to strangers and not his heirs, and his unprotected, fatherless children fall in want, so that his posterity shall utterly fail.

13. posterity—literally, "end," as in Ps 37:38, or, what comes after; that is, reward, or success, or its expectation, of which posterity was to a Jew a prominent part.

14, 15. Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered, &c.—Added to the terrible overthrow following his own sin, let there be the imputation of his parents' guilt, that it may now come before God, for His meting out its full consequences, in cutting off the memory of them (that is, the parents) from the earth (Ps 34:16).

16. Let God remember guilt, because he (the wicked) did not remember mercy.

poor and needy … broken in heart—that is, pious sufferer (Ps 34:18; 35:10; 40:17).

17-19. Let his loved sin, cursing, come upon him in punishment (Ps 35:8), thoroughly fill him as water and oil, permeating to every part of his system (compare Nu 5:22-27), and become a garment and a girdle for a perpetual dress.

20. Let this … reward—or, "wages," pay for labor, the fruit of the enemy's wickedness.

from the Lord—as His judicial act.

21, 22. do … for me—that is, kindness.

wounded—literally, "pierced" (Ps 69:16, 29).

23. like the shadow—(Compare Ps 102:11).

tossed up and down—or, "driven" (Ex 10:19).

24, 25. Taunts and reproaches aggravate his afflicted and feeble state (Ps 22:6, 7).

26, 27. Let my deliverance glorify Thee (compare Ps 59:13).

28-31. In confidence that God's blessing would come on him, and confusion and shame on his enemies (Ps 73:13), he ceases to regard their curses, and anticipates a season of joyful and public thanksgiving; for God is near to protect (Ps 16:8; 34:6) the poor from all unrighteous judges who may condemn him.