1 [To the chief Musician. 'Destroy not.' Of David. Michtam.] Is righteousness indeed silent? Do ye speak it? Do ye judge with equity, ye sons of men?

2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.

3 The wicked go astray from the womb; they err as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: {they are} like the deaf adder which stoppeth her ear;

5 Which doth not hearken to the voice of enchanters, of one charming ever so wisely.

6 O God, break their teeth in their mouth; break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Jehovah.

7 Let them melt away as waters that flow off; when he aimeth his arrows, let them be as blunted:

8 Let them be as a snail that melteth as it passeth away; {like} the untimely birth of a woman, let them not see the sun.

9 Before your pots feel the thorns, green or burning, -they shall be whirled away.

10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his footsteps in the blood of the wicked:

11 And men shall say, Verily there is fruit for the righteous; verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.

1 To the chief music-maker; put to Al-tashheth. Michtam. Of David.

2 \58:1\Is there righteousness in your mouths, O you gods? are you upright judges, O you sons of men?

3 \58:2\The purposes of your hearts are evil; your hands are full of cruel doings on the earth.

4 \58:3\The evil-doers are strange from the first; from the hour of their birth they go out of the true way, saying false words.

5 \58:4\Their poison is like the poison of a snake; they are like the adder, whose ears are shut;

6 \58:5\Who will not be moved by the voice of the wonder-worker, however great are his powers.

7 \58:6\O God, let their teeth be broken in their mouths; let the great teeth of the young lions be pulled out, O Lord.

8 \58:7\Let them be turned to liquid like the ever-flowing waters; let them be cut off like the grass by the way.

9 \58:8\Let them be like an after-birth which is turned to water and comes to an end; like the fruit of a woman who gives birth before her time, let them not see the sun.

10 \58:9\Before they are conscious of it, let them be cut down like thorns; let a strong wind take them away like waste growth.

11 \58:10\The upright man will be glad when he sees their punishment; his feet will be washed in the blood of the evil-doer.

12 \58:11\So that men will say, Truly there is a reward for righteousness; truly there is a God who is judge on the earth.