Chapter 58

{To the chief Musician. 'Destroy not.' Of David. Michtam.} Is righteousness indeed silent? Do ye speak it? Do ye judge with equity, ye sons of men?

Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.

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

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder which stoppeth her ear;

Which doth not hearken to the voice of enchanters, of one charming ever so wisely.

O God, break their teeth in their mouth; break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Jehovah.

Let them melt away as waters that flow off; when he aimeth his arrows, let them be as blunted:

Let them be as a snail that melteth as it passeth away; [like] the untimely birth of a woman, let them not see the sun.

Before your pots feel the thorns, green or burning, -- they shall be whirled away.

The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his footsteps in the blood of the wicked:

And men shall say, Verily there is fruit for the righteous; verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.