The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New King James Version NKJV
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 Musician. Set to 'Do Not Destroy.' A Michtam of David. Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones? Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?
2 [No!] In your hearts you devise wrongs, your hands dispense violence in the land.
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No, in heart you work wickedness; You weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.
3 From the womb, the wicked are estranged, liars on the wrong path since birth.
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The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
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 serpent; They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear,
5 so as not to hear the voice of the charmer, no matter how well he plays.
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Which will not heed the voice of charmers, Charming ever so skillfully.
6 God, break their teeth in their mouth! Shatter the fangs of these lions, ADONAI!
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Break their teeth in their mouth, O God! Break out the fangs of the young lions, 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 flow away as waters which run continually; When he bends his bow, Let his arrows be as if cut in pieces.
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 a snail which melts away as it goes, Like a stillborn child of a woman, that they may 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 your pots can feel the burning thorns, He shall take them away as with a whirlwind, As in His living and burning wrath.
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 righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,
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, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; Surely He is God who judges in the earth."