To the Chief Musician; set to [the tune of] "Do Not Destroy." A Mikhtam of David. [A record of memorable thoughts of David]. Do you indeed speak righteousness, O gods (heavenly beings)? Do you judge fairly, O sons of men?
No, in your heart you devise wrongdoing; On earth you deal out the violence of your hands.
The wicked are estranged from the womb; These go astray from birth, speaking lies [even twisted partial truths].
Their poison is like the venom of a serpent; They are like the deaf horned viper that stops up its ear,
So that it does not listen to the voice of charmers, Or of the skillful enchanter casting [cunning] spells.
O God, break their teeth in their mouth; Break out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.
Let them flow away like water that runs off; When he aims his arrows, let them be as headless shafts.
Let them be as a snail which melts away (secretes slime) as it goes along, Like the miscarriage of a woman which never sees the sun.
Before your cooking pots can feel the fire of thorns [burning under them as fuel], He will sweep them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning ones alike.
The [unyieldingly] righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance [of God]; He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
Men will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely there is a God who judges on the earth."