1 {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?

1 לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ אַל־תַּשְׁחֵ֗ת לְדָוִ֥ד מִכְתָּֽם׃

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

2 הַֽאֻמְנָ֗ם אֵ֣לֶם צֶ֭דֶק תְּדַבֵּר֑וּן מֵישָׁרִ֥ים תִּ֝שְׁפְּט֗וּ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָֽם׃

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

3 אַף־בְּלֵב֮ עֹולֹ֪ת תִּפְעָ֫ל֥וּן בָּאָ֡רֶץ חֲמַ֥ס יְ֝דֵיכֶ֗ם תְּפַלֵּֽסֽוּן׃

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

4 זֹ֣רוּ רְשָׁעִ֣ים מֵרָ֑חֶם תָּע֥וּ מִ֝בֶּ֗טֶן דֹּבְרֵ֥י כָזָֽב׃

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

5 חֲמַת־לָ֗מֹו כִּדְמ֥וּת חֲמַת־נָחָ֑שׁ כְּמֹו־פֶ֥תֶן חֵ֝רֵ֗שׁ יַאְטֵ֥ם אָזְנֹֽו׃

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

6 אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־יִ֭שְׁמַע לְקֹ֣ול מְלַחֲשִׁ֑ים חֹובֵ֖ר חֲבָרִ֣ים מְחֻכָּֽם׃

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

7 אֱ‍ֽלֹהִ֗ים הֲרָס־שִׁנֵּ֥ימֹו בְּפִ֑ימֹו מַלְתְּעֹ֥ות כְּ֝פִירִ֗ים נְתֹ֣ץ׀ יְהוָֽה׃

8 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.

8 יִמָּאֲס֣וּ כְמֹו־מַ֭יִם יִתְהַלְּכוּ־לָ֑מֹו יִדְרֹ֥ךְ חִצֹּו חִ֝צָּ֗יו כְּמֹ֣ו יִתְמֹלָֽלוּ׃

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

9 כְּמֹ֣ו בְּלוּל תֶּ֣מֶס יַהֲלֹ֑ךְ נֵ֥פֶל אֵ֝֗שֶׁת בַּל־חָ֥זוּ שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃

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

10 בְּטֶ֤רֶם יָבִ֣ינוּ סִּֽירֹתֵיכֶ֣ם אָטָ֑ד כְּמֹו־חַ֥י כְּמֹו־חָ֝רֹ֗ון יִשְׂעָרֶֽנּוּ׃

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

11 יִשְׂמַ֣ח צַ֭דִּיק כִּי־חָזָ֣ה נָקָ֑ם פְּעָמָ֥יו יִ֝רְחַ֗ץ בְּדַ֣ם הָרָשָֽׁע׃