The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 For the leader. Set to "Do Not Destroy." By David, a mikhtam: [Rulers,] does your silence really speak justice? Are you judging people fairly?
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<To the chief music-maker; put to Al-tashheth. Michtam. Of David.> Is there righteousness in your mouths, O you gods? are you upright judges, O you sons of men?
2 [No!] In your hearts you devise wrongs, your hands dispense violence in the land.
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The purposes of your hearts are evil; your hands are full of cruel doings on the earth.
3 From the womb, the wicked are estranged, liars on the wrong path since birth.
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The evil-doers are strange from the first; from the hour of their birth they go out of the true way, saying false words.
4 Their venom is like snake's venom; they are like a serpent that stops its ears,
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Their poison is like the poison of a snake; they are like the adder, whose ears are shut;
5 so as not to hear the voice of the charmer, no matter how well he plays.
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Who will not be moved by the voice of the wonder-worker, however great are his powers.
6 God, break their teeth in their mouth! Shatter the fangs of these lions, ADONAI!
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O God, let their teeth be broken in their mouths; let the great teeth of the young lions be pulled out, O Lord.
7 May they vanish like water that drains away. May their arrows be blunted when they aim their bows.
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Let them be turned to liquid like the ever-flowing waters; let them be cut off like the grass by the way.
8 May they be like a slug that melts as it moves, like a stillborn baby that never sees the sun.
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Let them be like an after-birth which is turned to water and comes to an end; like the fruit of a woman who gives birth before her time, let them not see the sun.
9 Before your cook-pots feel the heat of the burning thorns, may he blow them away, green and blazing alike.
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Before they are conscious of it, let them be cut down like thorns; let a strong wind take them away like waste growth.
10 The righteous will rejoice to see vengeance done, they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked;
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The upright man will be glad when he sees their punishment; his feet will be washed in the blood of the evil-doer.
11 and people will say, "Yes, the righteous are rewarded; there is, after all, a God who judges the earth."
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So that men will say, Truly there is a reward for righteousness; truly there is a God who is judge on the earth.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.