The Book of Psalms

For the chief musician; set to Al Tashheth. A psalm of David. A michtam. Do you rulers speak righteousness? Do you judge uprightly, you people?

No, you commit wickedness in your heart; you distribute violence throughout the land with your hands.

The wicked go astray even when they were in the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.

Their poison is like a snake’s poison; they are like a deaf adder that stops up its ears,

that pays no attention to the voice of charmers, no matter how skillful they are.

Break their teeth in their mouths, God; break out the great teeth of the young lions, Yahweh.

Let them melt away as water that runs off; when they shoot their arrows, let them be as though they had no points.

Let them be like a snail that melts and passes away, like the untimely-born child of a woman that never sees the sunlight.

Before your pots can feel the thorn’s burning heat, he will take them away with a whirlwind, the green thorns and the burning thorns alike.

The righteous will rejoice when he sees God’s vengeance; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,

so that men will say, “Truly, there is a reward for the righteous person; truly there is a God who judges the earth.”

Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?

No, in your heart you plot injustice. You measure out the violence of your hands in the earth.

The wicked go astray from the womb. They are wayward as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

Their poison is like the poison of a snake, like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,

which doesn’t listen to the voice of charmers, no matter how skillful the charmer may be.

Break their teeth, God, in their mouth. Break out the great teeth of the young lions, LORD.

Let them vanish like water that flows away. When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt.

Let them be like a snail which melts and passes away, like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun.

Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns, he will sweep away the green and the burning alike.

The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,

so that men shall say, “Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”