^{1 Ref} <To the chief music-maker; put to Al-tashheth. Michtam. Of David.> Is there righteousness in your mouths, O you gods? are you upright judges, O you sons of men?

^{2 Ref} The purposes of your hearts are evil; your hands are full of cruel doings on the earth.

^{3 Ref} The evil-doers are strange from the first; from the hour of their birth they go out of the true way, saying false words.

^{4 Ref} Their poison is like the poison of a snake; they are like the adder, whose ears are shut;

^{5 Ref} Who will not be moved by the voice of the wonder-worker, however great are his powers.

^{6 Ref} O God, let their teeth be broken in their mouths; let the great teeth of the young lions be pulled out, O Lord.

^{7 Ref} Let them be turned to liquid like the ever-flowing waters; let them be cut off like the grass by the way.

^{8 Ref} 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.

^{9 Ref} Before they are conscious of it, let them be cut down like thorns; let a strong wind take them away like waste growth.

^{10 Ref} The upright man will be glad when he sees their punishment; his feet will be washed in the blood of the evil-doer.

^{11 Ref} So that men will say, Truly there is a reward for righteousness; truly there is a God who is judge on the earth.

^{1 Ref} To the Overseer. -- `Destroy not.' -- A secret treasure, by David. Is it true, O dumb one, righteously ye speak? Uprightly ye judge, O sons of men?

^{2 Ref} Even in heart ye work iniquities, In the land the violence of your hands ye ponder.

^{3 Ref} The wicked have been estranged from the womb, They have erred from the belly, speaking lies.

^{4 Ref} Their poison `is' as poison of a serpent, As a deaf asp shutting its ear,

^{5 Ref} Which hearkeneth not to the voice of whisperers, A charmer of charms most skilful.

^{6 Ref} O God, break their teeth in their mouth, The jaw-teeth of young lions break down, O Jehovah.

^{7 Ref} They are melted as waters, They go up and down for themselves, His arrow proceedeth as they cut themselves off.

^{8 Ref} As a snail that melteth he goeth on, `As' an untimely birth of a woman, They have not seen the sun.

^{9 Ref} Before your pots discern the bramble, As well the raw as the heated He whirleth away.

^{10 Ref} The righteous rejoiceth that he hath seen vengeance, His steps he washeth in the blood of the wicked.

^{11 Ref} And man saith: `Surely fruit `is' for the righteous: Surely there is a God judging in the earth!'

^{1 Ref} Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

^{2 Ref} Nay, in heart ye work wickedness; Ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.

^{3 Ref} The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

^{4 Ref} Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: `They are' like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,

^{5 Ref} Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, Charming never so wisely.

^{6 Ref} Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: Break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Jehovah.

^{7 Ref} Let them melt away as water that runneth apace: When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.

^{8 Ref} `Let them be' as a snail which melteth and passeth away, `Like' the untimely birth of a woman, that hath not seen the sun.

^{9 Ref} Before your pots can feel the thorns, He will take them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.

^{10 Ref} The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked;

^{11 Ref} So that men shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth. Psalm 59 For the Chief Musician; `set to' Al-tashheth. `A Psalm' of David. Michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.