Psalms 109

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 109

1¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;

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

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

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

5And 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.

16Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.

17As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.

18As 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.

19Let 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.

22For I [am] poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Psalm 109 opens with the psalmist's plea to God for deliverance from wicked and deceitful adversaries who oppose him without cause. He then pronounces a series of severe imprecations against his chief enemy, desiring their utter ruin and the destruction of their lineage. Despite these curses, the psalmist ultimately appeals for God's mercy and vows to praise the Lord for His saving intervention.

Medium Summary

The psalmist, David, begins by crying out to God, lamenting the malicious and lying attacks of his enemies who return hatred for his love. He then launches into a lengthy imprecatory prayer, calling for harsh judgments upon his chief adversary, including a short life, the ruin of his family, and the blotting out of his name. These curses are sought because the adversary persecuted the poor and needy and delighted in cursing. Following this, the psalmist shifts to describing his own desperate state, portraying himself as poor, needy, and afflicted. He implores God for merciful deliverance, asking that his enemies be shamed and that God's hand be evident in his salvation. The psalm concludes with a vow to offer great praise to the Lord, acknowledging His defense of the poor.

Long Summary

Psalm 109 commences with a fervent appeal from the psalmist, David, to God, seeking divine intervention against his relentless and deceitful adversaries. He describes how these enemies have spoken against him with lying tongues, surrounded him with hatred, and fought him without provocation, returning evil for his genuine affection. In response to their malice, the psalmist dedicates himself to prayer, which then transitions into a powerful and extensive series of imprecations. He calls upon God to appoint a wicked man over his chief adversary and allow Satan to stand at his right hand. The curses continue, desiring that the enemy be condemned in judgment, his prayers turn to sin, his days be few, and his office be taken by another. Furthermore, the psalmist wishes for his children to become fatherless vagabonds and beggars, his wife a widow, and his possessions plundered by strangers. He asks that no one extend mercy to him or his children, and that his posterity be cut off, their name blotted out. The reason for such severe curses is attributed to the adversary's lack of mercy and his persecution of the poor, needy, and broken-hearted, as well as his love for cursing. The psalmist desires that this cursing permeate his enemy like a garment, water, and oil, serving as a just reward for all his adversaries. Following this intense section, the psalmist shifts his focus back to his own plight, describing himself as poor, needy, wounded in heart, fading like a shadow, and a reproach to others. He earnestly implores God, the Lord, for help and salvation according to His mercy, so that his enemies may recognize the divine hand at work. He asks God to bless him while his adversaries curse, and to clothe them with shame and confusion. The psalm concludes with David's resolute vow to praise the Lord greatly among the multitude, affirming his confidence that God stands at the right hand of the poor to save them from those who condemn their soul.

Core Concepts

  • Imprecatory PrayerThis refers to the psalmist's extensive and detailed requests for divine judgment and severe curses upon his adversaries, particularly evident in verses 6-20. It reflects a plea for God's active punishment of the wicked.
  • Adversarial MaliceThe psalm portrays the psalmist's enemies as deceitful, hateful, and unprovoked in their attacks, returning evil for the psalmist's good. They are described as speaking with lying tongues and fighting without cause.
  • Divine JusticeUnderlying the imprecations is a profound belief that God will act to punish the wicked and uphold the righteous. The curses serve as a call for God's just retribution against those who have shown no mercy.
  • Personal AfflictionThe psalmist describes his own suffering, portraying himself as poor, needy, wounded in heart, and physically weakened. This highlights his desperate state at the hands of his adversaries.
  • God's Mercy and DeliveranceDespite the harsh curses, the psalmist ultimately relies on God's mercy and power to save him from his desperate situation. He appeals to God to deliver him for His name's sake and according to His good mercy.
  • Public PraiseThe psalm concludes with the psalmist's vow to praise the Lord greatly among the multitude. This demonstrates his faith that God will intervene and his commitment to publicly acknowledge divine help.
  • Satan's InvolvementThe specific phrase 'let Satan stand at his right hand' (v. 6) indicates a belief in Satan's role in the condemnation or downfall of the wicked. It suggests a spiritual dimension to the adversary's judgment.