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For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David.

58 Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones?
    Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?
No, in your heart you plot injustice.
    You measure out the violence of your hands in the earth.
The wicked go astray from the womb.
    They are wayward as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
Their poison is like the poison of a snake,
    like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,
    which doesn’t listen to the voice of charmers,
    no matter how skillful the charmer may be.
Break their teeth, God, in their mouth.
    Break out the great teeth of the young lions, Yahweh.
Let them vanish like water that flows away.
    When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt.
Let them be like a snail which melts and passes away,
    like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun.
Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns,
    he will sweep away the green and the burning alike.
10 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance.
    He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,
11 so that men shall say, “Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous.
    Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”

Psalm 58

For the Music Director. To the melody of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David.

Do you truly speak righteousness, O heavenly gods?
    Do you judge uprightly, O earthly men?
Indeed, in the heart you work wickedness;
    you weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

The wicked are estranged from the womb onward;
    those who speak lies go astray from birth.
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent;
    they are like the deaf adder that plugs its ear,
and will not listen to the voice of charmers,
    even the best and wisest enchanter.

Break their teeth in their mouth, O God;
    break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Lord.
May they melt away as waters which run continually;
    when he bends his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be trodden under.
May they become as a snail that melts as it goes,
    like the untimely birth of a woman, may they not see the sun.

Before your pots can feel the thorns’ heat, green or burning,
    may He sweep them away.
10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
    he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked;
11 and people will say,
    “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
    surely there is a God who judges on the earth.”