Can we pray these prayers?

Would you all agree that the psalms are types of prayers? If so then would you ever consider praying something like psalm 109, psalm 58, or pslam 137? These psalms are imprecatory (cursing) spalms that ask God to kill the opressors and, like in psalm 58, "shatter their teeth in their mouth." Do you think that, as christians who are told to love our neighbors, we can pray these kinds of prayers today?

The Old Testament says "an eye for an eye," yet Jesus says in the New Testament to turn the other cheek. It's just part of the marked difference between the Old Testament and Gospels in that regard.

But the lex talionis was only meant for use in criminal/civil offenses. It was a means of punishing those who broke certain laws. Im asking if you think we can pray imprecatory prayers.

I guess what I meant is that if you look in the New Testament, there's a different outlook towards those who are bad to you (in general).

Like what? could you explain or give some examples?

Sure! Here's what I'm thinking of:

Matthew 5:43--Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

5:44--But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

5:45--That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Romans 12:14--Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Romans 12:20--Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

(I suppose it's not always the Gospels, then, but I think it comes from Jesus' message).

Lintu said:

The Old Testament says "an eye for an eye," yet Jesus says in the New Testament to turn the other cheek.

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While off-topic, it should be remembered that the intent of this dictum (probably of Babylonian provedance) was fairness and was relatively enlightened.

What about:
1Cor. 16:22 - If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed.

Galatioans 1:8-9 - But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

Galatians: 5:12 - I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.

Would you not agree that these are also imprecatory statements?

When I think "he is to be accursed," I think of it as an action that the Lord will choose to do by his own will...not that other people are supposed to curse him themselves.

I'd like to read it in the original Greek so that I can figure out the mood of those verbs. (I apologize if you already know this...) In Latin, the same verb tense and mood can mean "He will be accursed," "He is to be accursed," and "He must be accursed." I think that Christians are called to be free of judgment themselves (he who is free of sin may cast the first stone) and understand that God IS our judge. He will curse those who deserve it.

These are just my opinions, though. I'll have to look around to see if there's a basis!
Interesting question, for sure!

When I think "he is to be accursed," I think of it as an action that the Lord will choose to do by his own will...not that other people are supposed to curse him themselves.

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I think that Christians are called to be free of judgment themselves (he who is free of sin may cast the first stone) and understand that God IS our judge. He will curse those who deserve it.

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These are my thoughts exactly. No one may judge man but God Himself. I also believe that the psalmists realized this as well, and retained this is the same attitude had when they prayed their imprecatory prayers. I think that the law of the tooth is taken out of context, and that The Old Ttestament tells us to love our enemies as well (Leviticus 19: 18,33,34; Exodus 23: 4,5; Proverbs 25: 21,22).