1Ein güldenes Kleinod Davids, vorzusingen, nach der Weise »Vertilge nicht«.2Sprecht ihr in Wahrheit Recht, ihr Mächtigen? Richtet ihr in Gerechtigkeit die Menschenkinder? (Ps 82,2)3Nein, mutwillig tut ihr Unrecht im Lande, und eure Hände treiben Frevel.4Die Frevler sind abtrünnig vom Mutterschoß an, die Lügner gehen irre von Mutterleib an.5Sie sind voller Gift wie eine giftige Schlange, wie eine taube Otter, die ihr Ohr verschließt,6dass sie nicht höre die Stimme des Zauberers, des Beschwörers, der gut beschwören kann.7Gott, zerbrich ihnen die Zähne im Maul, zerschlage, HERR, das Gebiss der jungen Löwen!8Sie werden vergehen wie Wasser, das verrinnt. Zielen sie mit ihren Pfeilen, so werden sie ihnen zerbrechen.9Sie vergehen, wie eine Schnecke verschmachtet, wie eine Fehlgeburt sehen sie die Sonne nicht.10Ehe eure Töpfe das Dornfeuer spüren, reißt alles der brennende Zorn hinweg.11Der Gerechte wird sich freuen, wenn er solche Vergeltung sieht, und wird seine Füße baden in des Frevlers Blut;12und die Leute werden sagen: / Ja, der Gerechte empfängt seine Frucht, ja, Gott ist noch Richter auf Erden.
For the director of music. A miktam of David to the tune of ‘Do Not Destroy.’
1Are you rulers really fair when you speak? Do you judge people honestly?2No, in your hearts you plan to be unfair. With your hands you do terrible things on the earth.3Even from birth those who are evil go down the wrong path. From the day they are born they go the wrong way and spread lies.4Their words are like the poison of a snake. They are like the poison of a cobra that has covered up its ears.5It won’t listen to a snake charmer’s tune, even if the charmer plays very well.6God, break the teeth in the mouths of those sinners! LORD, tear out the sharp teeth of those lions!7Let those people disappear like water that flows away. When they draw their bows, let their arrows fall short of the target.8Let them be like a slug that melts away as it moves along. Let them be like a baby that is born dead and never sees the sun.9Evil people will be swept away before burning thorns can heat a pot. And it doesn’t matter if the thorns are green or dry.10Godly people will be glad when those who have hurt them are paid back. They will dip their feet in the blood of those who do evil.11Then people will say, ‘The godly will get their reward. There really is a God who judges the earth.’
To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David.
1Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?[1] Do you judge the children of man uprightly?[2]2No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth. (Ps 94,20)3The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. (Ps 51,5; Jes 48,8)4They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, (5Mo 32,33; Ps 140,3)5so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter. (Jer 8,17)6O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD! (Hi 4,10; Hi 29,17; Ps 3,7)7Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted. (Jos 7,5; Ps 64,3; Ps 112,10)8Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun. (Hi 3,16; Ps 7,1)9Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away![3] (Hi 27,21; Ps 118,12; Spr 10,25; Pred 7,6)10The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. (5Mo 32,43; Hi 22,19; Ps 68,23)11Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.” (1Mo 18,25; Hi 19,29; Ps 67,4; Ps 94,2; Pred 12,14; Jes 3,10)