To the Director: A special Davidic psalma to the tune ofb “Do Not Destroy”.

A Prayer for Justice

1How is it that by remaining silent you can speak righteously?

How can you judge people fairly?

2As a matter of fact, in your heart you plan iniquities!

In the land your hands are violent!

3The wicked go astray from the womb;

they go astray, telling lies even from birth.

4Their venom is like a poisonous snake;

even like a deaf serpent that shuts its ears,

5refusing to hear the voice of the snake charmer,

the cunning enchanter.

6God, shatter their teeth in their mouths;

LORD, break the fangs of the young lions!

7May they flow away like rain water that runs off,

may they become like someone who shoots broken arrows.

8May they be like a snail that dries up as it crawls;

like a woman’s stillborn baby, who never saw the sun.

9Before your clay pots are placed on a fire of burningc thorns—

whether green or ablaze—

wrath will sweep them away like a storm.

10The righteous person will rejoice when he sees yourd vengeance;

when he washes his feet in the blood of the wicked.

11A person will say,

“Certainly, the righteous are rewarded;

certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”