1 Hold not thy peace, O GOD my praise;
2 For op'ned wide at me
Are wicked and deceitful mouths,
with tongues of falsity.
3 With words of spiteful hatred they
encompass me around;
And fight against me, tho' no cause
in me they ever found.
4 They for my love became my foes;
yet I for them did pray ;
5 Ill they reward me for my good,
and hate tor love repay.
[2 Part]
5 But Thou wilt set a wicked one
o'er him to have command;
And at his right hand always shall
the troubler Satan stand.
7 When he to judgment comes, he shall
be wicked found therein;
His pray'rs shall aggravations be
of his presumptuous sin,
8 His days shall be but few; his charge
another man shall take;
9 Thou wilt his children fatherless
his wife a widow make.
10 His children shall be vagabonds
and beg continually;
And from their places desolate
shall seek for a supply.
11 Extortioners shall seize on all
that to him appertains;
And strangers spoil the fruits of all
his labours, care and pains.
12 None to him favour shall extend,
nor to his orphans show;
13 His race shall fail, nor shall their names
the age succeeding know.
14 Their fathers wickedness shall be
remembred by the LORD;
And how their mother did transgress
shall still be on record.
15 They shall before JEHOVAH's face
appear continually,
Until he wholly from the earth
cuts off their memory.
16 Because he did no mercy mind,
but persecute the poor;
That he might slay afflicted ones
Whose hearts were broke before.
17 As he did bitter cursing love,
curses shall on him lie:
As he delighted not to bless,
blessing shall from him fly.
28 As he with curses cloath'd himself;
like water they shall flow
into his bowels, and like oyl
into his bones shall go.
19 Like an enclosing garment, they
shall compass him around;
And as a girdle constantly
they shall on him be bound.
20 Thus will JEHOVAH deal with those
my spiteful enemies;
Who evil speak against my soul,
against my life devise.
[3 Part]
21 But Lord JEHOVAH, deal Thou well
for thy name sake with me:
Because thy mercies tender are,
O set me quickly free.
22 For I afflicted am and weak,
and helpless and oppress'd;
My heart most deeply wounded is,
and pained in my breast.
23 Like to the shadow far declin'd,
so far away I'm gone;
And as the locust with the wind,
am tossed up and down.
24. By fasting long and frequently
my knees are feeble grown;
And so much wasted is my flesh,
that all its fat is gone.
25 I'm a reproach among my foes,
who mock me as forlorn;
And always when they look on me,
they shake their heads with scorn.
26 Help me JEHOVAH, O my God,
in mercy save Thou me.
27 That all may know this is thy hand,
that, LORD, 'tis done by Thee.
28 When me they curse, do Thou me bless:
let them asham'd be made,
When they rise up; but O then let
thy servant's heart be glad.
29 So shall my spiteful enemies
be cloathed all with shame;
And their confusion shall like as
a mantle cover them.
30 But I will greatly thank the LORD,
and with my mouth aloud,
Will joyful praises to Him sing
among the multitude.
31 For at the right hand of the poor
He stands to rescue them
From those who judge unrighteously,
and would their souls condemn.
Source: The Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New Testament, faithfully translated into English Metre: being the New-England Psalm-Book, revised and improved... (2nd ed.) #PCIX