Let's talk about justice. Suppose: a man treats another as a good friend. He invites him to eat with him at his home. However, the "friend" betrays him. He explains to thieves how to steal the good soul. Is it just to pray against the traitor? Yes, absolutely like Psalm 41. The Lord has put some sense of justice in our hearts that cry out for revenge.
On the other hand, the good soul could pray for the traitor's benefit as in Matthew. What must be good for him? Repent, die for self and live for Jesus. The divine answer may represent something that makes the traitor to repent from his sins. I understand that a prayer for or against our enemies is pleasing to the Lord and the Lord may answer both in the same way.
In the New Testament we find at least one case where a man is cursed by Paul. We could say that since Paul saw him as an enemy, he should pray for him, for his benefit, but this is not what we read in Acts 13:
6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer(Q) and false prophet(R) named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul,(S) Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer(T) (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul(U) from the faith.(V) 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit,(W) looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil(X) and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?(Y) 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you.(Z) You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”(AA) Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul(AB) saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
I understand that we cannot generalize the rules of the Bible. It could be argued that Paul was actually doing the sorcerer good because, through his blindness, he could "see" the Lord's power and repent.
In short, I am considering that I myself can pray for or against my enemy. The key is to pray, to let the Lord do justice. If my Lord is my friend, I have to be very sincere with Him expecting that He listens to my prayers. Ultimately, let the Lord be glorified by my actions and modify my heart due to my prayer.
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