| Holman Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
| 1For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy." A Davidic Miktam. Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones? Do you judge people fairly? | 1For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam. Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity? |
| 2No, you practice injustice in your hearts; with your hands you weigh out violence in the land. | 2No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth. |
| 3The wicked go astray from the womb; liars err from birth. | 3Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies. |
| 4They have venom like the venom of a snake, like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears, | 4Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears, |
| 5that does not listen to the sound of the charmers who skillfully weave spells. | 5that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be. |
| 6God, knock the teeth out of their mouths; LORD, tear out the young lions' fangs. | 6Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; LORD, tear out the fangs of those lions! |
| 7They will vanish like water that flows by; they will aim their useless arrows. | 7Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short. |
| 8Like a slug that moves along in slime, like a woman's miscarried child, they will not see the sun. | 8May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along, like a stillborn child that never sees the sun. |
| 9Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns-- whether green or burning-- He will sweep them away. | 9Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns-- whether they be green or dry--the wicked will be swept away. |
| 10The righteous one will rejoice when he sees the retribution; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. | 10The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked. |
| 11Then people will say," Yes, there is a reward for the righteous! There is a God who judges on earth!" | 11Then people will say, "Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth." |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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