1[For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A poem by David.] Do you rulers indeed speak righteousness? Do you judge blamelessly, you descendants of Adam?

2No, in your heart you plot injustice. You measure out the violence of your hands in the earth.

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

4Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; like a deaf viper that stops its ear,

5which doesn't listen to the voice of charmers, no matter how skillful the charmer may be.

6Break their teeth, God, in their mouth. Break out the great teeth of the young lions, LORD.

7Let them vanish as water that flows away. When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt.

8Let them be like a snail which melts and passes away, like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun.

9Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns, he will sweep away the green and the burning alike.

10The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked;

11so that men shall say, "Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth."