Prayer for the Punishment of the Wicked.

For the music director; set to [a]Al-tashheth. A [b]Mikhtam of David.

1Do you indeed [c]speak righteousness, you [d]gods?

Do you judge [e]fairly, you sons of mankind?

2No, in heart you practice injustice;

On earth you clear a way for the violence of your hands.

3The wicked have turned away from the womb;

These who speak lies go astray from [f]birth.

4They have venom like the venom of a serpent;

Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear,

5So that it does not hear the voice of [g]charmers,

Or a skillful caster of spells.

6God, shatter their teeth in their mouth;

Break out the fangs of the young lions, LORD.

7May they flow away like water that runs off;

When he [h]aims his arrows, may they be as [i]headless shafts.

8May they be like a snail which goes along in slime,

Like the miscarriage of a woman that never sees the sun.

9Before your pots can feel the fire of thorns

He will sweep them away with a whirlwind, the [j]green and the burning alike.

10The righteous will rejoice when he sees vengeance;

He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

11And people will say, “There certainly is [k]a reward for the righteous;

There certainly is a God who judges on the earth!”