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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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