Judgment on the Wicked
For the music director, according to Do not Destroy.
Of David. A miktam.The Hebrew Bible counts the superscription as the first verse of the psalm; the English verse number is reduced by one
1 Do you really speak what is right when silent?A slight emendation of the Hebrew text yields "what is right, O gods," or "O mighty ones"
Do you judge fairly the children of humankind?Or "Do you judge fairly, O sons of humankind?"
2 No, in your heart you plan injustices;
in the landOr "on the earth" you weigh out the violence of your hands.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb.
They go astray from the belly, speaking lies.
4 Their venom is like snake venom;
They are like a deaf viper that closes its ear
5 so that it does not hear the voice of charmers
or the skilled caster of spells.
6 O God, break their teeth in their mouth.
Break off the fangs of the young lions, O Yahweh.
7 Let them run away like water that runs off.
When he bends the bow, let his arrows be as though they were cut off.Or "as though they were withered stalks"
8 Let them be like a snail that melts away as it goes;
like the stillborn of woman that do not see the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the heat of a thornbush,
whether green or dry,Literally "burning" he will sweep it away.The Hebrew of this verse is difficult to interpret
10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 And peopleHebrew "a person" will say, "Surely there is a rewardLiterally "fruit" for the righteous.
Surely there is a God who judges in the land."Or "on the earth"