To the chief musician, Altaschith, michtam of David.
1 Doe ye o congregation,
indeed speak righteousness?
and o ye sons of earthly men,
do ye judge uprightness?
2 Yea you in heart will working be
injurious-wickedness;
and in the land you will weigh out
your hands violentness.
3 The wicked are estranged from
the womb, they go astray
as soon as ever they are borne;
uttering lies are they.
4 Their poison’s like serpents poison:
they like deaf Asp, her ear
5 that stops. Though Charmer wisely charm,
his voice she will not hear.
6 Within their mouth do thou their teeth
break out, o God most strong,
do thou Jehovah, the great teeth
break of the lions young.
7 As waters let them melt away,
that run continually:
and when he bends his shafts, let them
as cut asunder be.
8 Like to a snail that melts, so let
each of the pass away;
like to a woman’s untimely birth
see Sun that never they may.
9 Before your pots can feel the thorns,
take them away shall he,
as with a whirlwind both living,
and in his jealousy.
10 The righteous will rejoice when as
the vengeance he doth see:
his feet wash shall he in the blood
of them that wicked be.
11 So that a man shall say, surely
for righteous there is fruit:
sure there’s a God that in the earth
judgment doth execute.