1 To the Overseer. -- `Destroy not.' -- A secret treasure, by David. Is it true, O dumb one, righteously ye speak? Uprightly ye judge, O sons of men?

1 לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ אַל־תַּשְׁחֵ֗ת לְדָוִ֥ד מִכְתָּֽם׃

2 Even in heart ye work iniquities, In the land the violence of your hands ye ponder.

2 הַֽאֻמְנָ֗ם אֵ֣לֶם צֶ֭דֶק תְּדַבֵּר֑וּן מֵישָׁרִ֥ים תִּ֝שְׁפְּט֗וּ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָֽם׃

3 The wicked have been estranged from the womb, They have erred from the belly, speaking lies.

3 אַף־בְּלֵב֮ עֹולֹ֪ת תִּפְעָ֫ל֥וּן בָּאָ֡רֶץ חֲמַ֥ס יְ֝דֵיכֶ֗ם תְּפַלֵּֽסֽוּן׃

4 Their poison `is' as poison of a serpent, As a deaf asp shutting its ear,

4 זֹ֣רוּ רְשָׁעִ֣ים מֵרָ֑חֶם תָּע֥וּ מִ֝בֶּ֗טֶן דֹּבְרֵ֥י כָזָֽב׃

5 Which hearkeneth not to the voice of whisperers, A charmer of charms most skilful.

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

6 O God, break their teeth in their mouth, The jaw-teeth of young lions break down, O Jehovah.

6 אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־יִ֭שְׁמַע לְקֹ֣ול מְלַחֲשִׁ֑ים חֹובֵ֖ר חֲבָרִ֣ים מְחֻכָּֽם׃

7 They are melted as waters, They go up and down for themselves, His arrow proceedeth as they cut themselves off.

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

8 As a snail that melteth he goeth on, `As' an untimely birth of a woman, They have not seen the sun.

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

9 Before your pots discern the bramble, As well the raw as the heated He whirleth away.

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

10 The righteous rejoiceth that he hath seen vengeance, His steps he washeth in the blood of the wicked.

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

11 And man saith: `Surely fruit `is' for the righteous: Surely there is a God judging in the earth!'

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