1Dem Chorleiter. Nach der Melodie „Verdirb nicht!“. Ein Gedicht von David.2Sprecht ihr wirklich Recht und schweigt? / Richtet ihr die Menschen gerecht?3Ihr habt das Unrecht schon im Herzen / und mit Gewalt beherrscht ihr das Land.4Von Geburt an sind diese Gottlosen auf der schiefen Bahn, / von klein auf ans Lügen gewöhnt.5Ihr Gift gleicht dem Gift einer Schlange, / einer tauben Kobra, die ihr Ohr verschließt6und nicht auf den Beschwörer hört, / der die Zaubersprüche kennt.7Schlag ihnen die Zähne ein, Gott! / Zerbrich das Gebiss dieser Löwen, Jahwe!8Lass sie verschwinden wie versickerndes Wasser! / Legt er seine Pfeile an, so brich du ihnen die Spitze ab!9Lass sie wie Schnecken im Schleim zerfließen / und wie eine Fehlgeburt die Sonne nicht sehn!10Bevor der Dornstrauch unter euren Töpfen brennt, / reißt der brennende Zorn alles hinweg.11Der Gerechte wird sich freuen, wenn er die Vergeltung sieht. / Er badet seine Füße in des Gottlosen Blut.12Dann wird man sagen: „Ja, der Gerechte wird doch belohnt! / Ja, es gibt doch einen Gott, der für das Recht auf der Erde sorgt.“
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.’
1To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam[1] of David. Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?[2] Do you judge the children of man uprightly? (Ps 16,1; Ps 57,1)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 58,7)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)