God Judges the Earth

1For the one directing. “Do not Destroy.” Of David. a Miktam.†

O silent ones, 1 Is it truly righteousness you⁺ speak?

Do you⁺ judge uprightly, O sons of man?

2Even in the heart you⁺ work iniquities;

in the earth you⁺ weigh out the violence of your⁺ hands.

3The wicked are estranged from the womb;

they have gone astray from the belly, speaking lies.

4Their venom is like the venom of a snake,

like the deaf cobra that stops up its ear,

5which will not listen to the voice of those whispering—

charmers most skillfully charming.

6O God, may You break their teeth in their mouths;

tear out the great teeth of the young lions, O YHWH!

7Let them flow away like waters,

running continually to themselves;

he treads the bow—

may his arrows be as though cut in pieces.†

8Like a snail melting as it goes,

the stillborn child of a woman,

may they not see the sun!

9Before your⁺ pots can discern the thorn,

as those living,

as burning wrath He sweeps them away.

10The righteous one will rejoice

when he has seen vengeance;

he will wash his feet

in the blood of the wicked.

11Then man will say,

“Surely fruit is for the righteous;

surely there is a God judging the earth!”