The Just Judgment of the Wicked
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David.
1 Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones?
Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?
2 No, in heart you work wickedness;
You weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb;
They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
4 Their poisonislike the poison of a serpent;
Theyarelike the deaf cobrathatstops its ear,
5 Which will notheed the voice of charmers,
Charming ever so skillfully.
6 Break their teeth in their mouth, O God!
Break out the fangs of the young lions, OLord!
7 Let them flow away as waterswhichrun continually;
Whenhe bendshisbow,
Let his arrows be as if cut in pieces.
8 Letthembelike a snail which melts away as it goes,
# Likea stillborn child of a woman, that they may not see the sun.
9 Before yourpots can feeltheburningthorns,
# He shall take them awayas with a whirlwind,
As in His living and burning wrath.
10 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees thevengeance;
# He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,
11 So that men will say,
“Surelythereisa reward for the righteous;
# Surely He is God whojudges in the earth.”