Psalms 109: God Stands with the Needy

Psalm 109 is titled For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. David is hurt by people who repay his love with hatred and lie about him. He says, but I am in prayer. He asks God to judge his enemies, using strong words. Then he asks God to help him according to his loving kindness. He ends with praise: God stands at the right hand of the needy to save him.

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Read Psalms 109

World English Bible · 31 verses

¹ For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. God of my praise, don’t remain silent,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ In return for my love, they are my adversaries; but I am in prayer.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ They have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Set a wicked man over him. Let an adversary stand at his right hand.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ When he is judged, let him come out guilty. Let his prayer be turned into sin.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Let his days be few. Let another take his office.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Let his children be wandering beggars. Let them be sought from their ruins.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Let the creditor seize all that he has. Let strangers plunder the fruit of his labor.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Let there be no one to extend kindness to him, neither let there be anyone to have pity on his fatherless children.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered by Yahweh. Don’t let the sin of his mother be blotted out.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Let them be before Yahweh continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ because he didn’t remember to show kindness, but persecuted the poor and needy man, the broken in heart, to kill them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Yes, he loved cursing, and it came to him. He didn’t delight in blessing, and it was far from him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment. It came into his inward parts like water, like oil into his bones.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ Let it be to him as the clothing with which he covers himself, for the belt that is always around him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ This is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh, of those who speak evil against my soul.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ But deal with me, Yahweh the Lord, for your name’s sake, because your loving kindness is good, deliver me;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² for I am poor and needy. My heart is wounded within me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ I fade away like an evening shadow. I am shaken off like a locust.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ My knees are weak through fasting. My body is thin and lacks fat.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ I have also become a reproach to them. When they see me, they shake their head.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ Help me, Yahweh, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ that they may know that this is your hand; that you, Yahweh, have done it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ They may curse, but you bless. When they arise, they will be shamed, but your servant shall rejoice.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ Let my adversaries be clothed with dishonor. Let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ I will give great thanks to Yahweh with my mouth. Yes, I will praise him among the multitude.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Open Preschool on its own page

Psalms 109 · Preschool

God Helps Me

Name Date

Color the praying hands and the heart. God helps us when people are unkind.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

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

Psalms 109:31 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Some people were unkind to David. David prayed to God for help. When someone is unkind to us, we can pray too.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Psalms 109 · Grade 4

Bringing Hurt to God

Name Date

Read and Think

Psalm 109 is titled For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. David's enemies have opened the mouth of deceit against him. They have rewarded him evil for good and hatred for his love. His answer comes in four short words: but I am in prayer.

The middle of the psalm (verses 6-20) contains strong prayers for judgment against a cruel man who persecuted the poor and needy and loved cursing. These words are hard to read. They show David bringing his deep hurt and anger to God instead of taking revenge himself. He leaves justice to Yahweh.

Then David turns to his own need. He is poor and needy, and his heart is wounded. He fades away like an evening shadow. He prays, Help me, Yahweh, my God. Save me according to your loving kindness. He knows that people may curse, but you bless. The psalm ends with thanks: God will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him.

Show What You Know

How did David's enemies repay his love?
What four-word answer does David give?
What does David do with his anger instead of taking revenge?
How does the psalm end?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

goodSaveGodneedyHelp

They have rewarded him evil for and hatred for his love.
The middle of the psalm (verses 6-20) contains strong prayers for judgment against a cruel man who persecuted the poor and and loved cursing.
They show David bringing his deep hurt and anger to instead of taking revenge himself.
He prays, me, Yahweh, my God.
me according to your loving kindness.

Think About It

David brought his hurt to God instead of hurting back. What can you do when someone treats you unfairly?
David said people may curse, but God blesses. How does God's blessing matter more than what others say about you?

Memory Verse

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

Psalms 109:31 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for helping me when I need you. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why is it better to give our anger to God?
What did David promise to do at the end?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Psalms 109 · Grade 5

Justice Belongs to God

Name Date

Read and Think

Psalm 109 is titled For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. It is one of the psalms that pray for judgment on enemies, sometimes called imprecatory psalms. David's accusers have surrounded him with words of hatred and fought against him without a cause. David says that in return for his love, they are his adversaries, but he is in prayer.

Verses 6-20 are strong words about a cruel man who did not remember to show kindness but persecuted the poor and needy and the broken in heart. David asks God to bring that man's cursing back on himself. These verses are honest about David's anger. They do not take revenge with the hand; they hand the case to the righteous Judge. In the New Testament, Peter applies verse 8 to Judas, who betrayed Jesus (Acts 1:20).

The final section turns to trust. David is poor and needy and shaken off like a locust. He asks Yahweh to deal with him for your name's sake and to save him according to his loving kindness, so that people may know this is your hand. They may curse, but you bless. David will praise Yahweh among the multitude, for he will stand at the right hand of the needy, to save him from those who judge his soul.

Show What You Know

What are imprecatory psalms?
Whom did the cruel man persecute?
How does Peter use verse 8 in the New Testament?
Why does David want God to save him?

Crossword

Across

Let an adversary stand at his right ____.
____ me according to your loving kindness.

Down

But persecuted the poor and ____ man.
I will give great ____ to Yahweh with my mouth.
I will ____ him among the multitude.

Think About It

David was honest with God about his anger but did not take revenge. How can you bring strong feelings to God in a right way?
God stands at the right hand of the needy. Who around you needs someone to stand with them?

Memory Verse

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

Psalms 109:31 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for helping me when I need you. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

David answered false accusation with prayer. How can you pray rather than strike back when you are falsely accused?
How does Acts 1:20 use Psalm 109?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Psalms 109: God Stands with the Needy

Read Psalms 109

Worksheets

God Helps Me

Prayer

Take It Home

I Will Pray

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

God Is My Help

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

God Helps the Needy

Prayer

Take It Home

When People Are Unkind

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

But I Am in Prayer

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

God Helps the Needy

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Bringing Hurt to God

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Justice Belongs to God

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options