¹ Do you “gods” really speak righteously? ^[2]
Do you sons of Adam judge rightly?
² No, in your heart you commit injustices.
On the earth your hands distribute violence.
³ The wicked go off course already from the womb.
From the belly they go astray. They speak lies.
⁴ Their venom is like the venom of a snake,
like a deaf cobra that has stopped its ears,
⁵ that will not listen to the sound of the charmers,
however skillful the spellbinder may be.

⁶ O God, break their teeth in their mouths.
Tear out the fangs of the young lions, Lord!
⁷ Let them vanish like water that flows away.
When he draws his bow, let his arrows be cut off. ^[3]
8 As a slug melts away as it crawls along, so let him disappear.
Like a stillborn child may they not see the sun.
⁹ Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—
whether the thorns are green or dry—they will be swept away. ^[4]

¹⁰ The righteous one will be glad when he sees vengeance.
He will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.
¹¹ Then people will say, “Surely there is fruit for the righteous.
Surely there is a God judging on the earth.”

¹ Deliver me from my enemies, my God.
You set me high above those who rise up against me.
² Deliver me from evildoers.
Save me from bloodthirsty men.

³ Yes, look how they lie in ambush to take my life!
Strong men gather against me,
but it is not because I have rebelled,
not because I have sinned, O Lord.
⁴ I am not guilty,
yet they run to take up their positions against me.
Rise up to meet me and see!
⁵ You, O Lord, God of Armies, the God of Israel,
wake up and confront all the nations. Interlude
Do not show mercy to all the wicked traitors.
⁶ They return at evening. They growl like dogs.
They prowl around the city.
⁷ Look, they gush from their mouths.
Their lips are swords,
so they say, “Who hears?”

⁸ But you laugh at them, Lord.
You scoff at all those nations.
⁹ O my Strength, I watch for you,
because God is my high fortress.

¹⁰ My merciful God will go ahead of me.
God will make me look down on those who slander me.

¹¹ Do not kill them, or my people may forget.
In your might make them wander about.
Bring them down, O Lord, our shield.
¹² The sin of their mouth is the words of their lips,
so let them be caught in their pride,
because of the curses and lies they proclaim.
¹³ Consume them in wrath.
Consume them till they are no more.
Then they will know to the ends of the earth Interlude
    that God rules over Jacob.
¹⁴ They return at evening. They growl like dogs.
They prowl around the city.
¹⁵ They wander about for food.
If not satisfied, they howl.

¹⁶ But I will sing about your strength.
In the morning I will shout about your mercy,
because you are a high fortress for me,
a refuge in the day of my distress.
¹⁷ O my Strength, to you I make music,
because God is my high fortress, my merciful God.