109
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David [Beloved].
Context: Possibly, many friends are unreliable; David [Beloved] flees trusting nearly no one. (1 Sam 22:1-5)
Historically, the concluding verses (Ps 109:26-31) are sung for Hanukkah with Psalm 105.
1 God of my tehilah ·praise song·, 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 †Making teshuvah ·complete 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 out guilty.
Let his prayer be turned into cause for sacrifice for sin ·missing the goal·.
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 no one to extend kindness to him,
neither let there be anyone to have pity on his orphan children.
13 Let his posterity be cut off.
In the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14 Let the depravity (moral evil) of his fathers be remembered by Adonai.
Don’t let the habitual sin ·missing the mark· of his mother be blotted out.
15 Let them be before Adonai continually,
that he may cut off their memory 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 'ahav ·affectionately 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 Adonai,
of those who speak evil against my soul.
21 But deal with me, Adonai the 'Adonay [Yahweh the Lord], for your name’s sake,
because your chesed ·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, Adonai, my God.
Save me according to your chesed ·loving-kindness·;
27 that they may know that this is your hand;
that you, Adonai, 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 Adonai with my mouth.
Yes, I will yadah ·extend hands in thankful praise· to 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.
* 109:3 . Quoted in John 15:25 † 109:4 . MP: Messiah will pray for his enemies. (Matt 23:37; Luke 23:34) ‡ 109:8 a MP: The Messiah’s betrayer will have a short life. (Matt 27:3-5; Acts 1:15-18) § 109:8 b MP: The Messiah’s betrayer is replaced by another. (Acts 1:20-26) * 109:8 . Quoted in Acts 1:20 † 109:8 . Paraphrase Quoted in John 17:12 with Acts 1:16-20 ‡ 109:25 . MP: Messiah is mocked by people shaking their heads. (Mark 15:29-30)