The Book of Psalms

Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?

No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.

The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth.

Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears,

refusing to hear the tune of the charmer who skillfully weaves his spell.

O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.

May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.(a)

Like a slug that dissolves in its slime, like a woman’s stillborn child, may they never see the sun.

Before your pots can feel the burning thorns— whether green or dry— He will sweep them away.

The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.

Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”

(a)58:7 Or when they are trodden down, may they wither like grass

Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?

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

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

Their poison is like the poison of a snake, like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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