1 T o 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?

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

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

4 T heir poison as poison of a serpent, As a deaf asp shutting its ear,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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