⁶ Here’s what they say: Find some evil scoundrel to go after him.
    Let’s get some accuser to level charges against him.
⁷ At his trial, let’s make sure he is found guilty
    so that even his prayers become evidence that convicts him.
⁸ Let his days be few, his life cut short;
    let another take over his position.
⁹ Lay waste to his family—
    let his children become orphans and his wife a widow.
¹⁰ Let his children wander the streets—his legacy, homeless beggars
    scavenging for food,
    [driven out of]^[a] the rubble and slums where they live.
¹¹ Let the bankers take what is his;
    strangers help themselves to what little is left of all he’s earned.
¹² Let there be no one around to offer him compassion,
    nor anyone to give his fatherless children warmth or kindness.
¹³ Let his family line come to an end—
    no future generations to carry on his name!
¹⁴ Let the sins of his fathers be remembered before the Eternal,
    and the sins of his mother never be erased.
¹⁵ Let their offenses always be before the Eternal
    so that the memory of this family is long forgotten by all the people of the earth,
¹⁶ Because it never occurred to him to show compassion;
    instead, he oppressed the poor, afflicted,
    and brokenhearted and sent them to their death.
¹⁷ He loved to invoke a curse—so let his curses come back to him.
    He preferred not to speak a blessing—so let all blessings be far from him.
¹⁸ He wrapped himself with cursing, draped around him like a cape;
    may it flood his body like water
    and seep into his bones like oil.
¹⁹ Let those curses wrap around him like a cloak on a cold night,
    like a belt tightly knotted around him every day.
²⁰ Let the Eternal so reward my accusers,
    all those who speak and plot evil against me.
²¹ But You, my Master, the Eternal,
    treat me with kindness for the sake of Your name, the good of Your reputation;
    because Your unfailing love is so good, O deliver me!
²² You see, I am poor and needy,
    and my heart is broken inside me.
²³ My life is fading away like a shadow that vanishes in the evening;
    I am like a locust easily brushed off the shoulder.
²⁴ I can barely stand; my knees are weak from not eating;
    I am haggard and drawn, just skin and bones.
²⁵ I have become a person of contempt to my accusers;
    whenever they see me, they taunt me, shaking their heads in disapproval.

²⁶ Help me, Eternal One my God; come to my rescue!
    Save me through Your unfailing love.
²⁷ Let everyone know that You are the source of my salvation
    that You, Eternal One, have done this mighty work.
²⁸ Let them utter a curse, if they will, but You will speak a blessing;
    [when they come to attack,]^[b] let them know utter shame.
    Then Your servant will celebrate and praise You!
²⁹ Let my enemies be clothed with disgrace and humiliation;
    let them be dressed in a robe of their own shame.
³⁰ I will continually give thanks to the Eternal
    with the praises of my mouth;
    I will praise Him in the company of many.
³¹ For He always stands in support of the afflicted and needy
    to rescue their souls from those who judge and condemn them.