New International Version NIV
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity?
1
<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 heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth.
2
The purposes of your hearts are evil; your hands are full of cruel doings on the earth.
3 Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
3
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 the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
4
Their poison is like the poison of a snake; they are like the adder, whose ears are shut;
5 that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skillful the enchanter may be.
5
Who will not be moved by the voice of the wonder-worker, however great are his powers.
6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; LORD, tear out the fangs of those lions!
6
O God, let their teeth be broken in their mouths; let the great teeth of the young lions be pulled out, O Lord.
7 Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.
7
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 away as it moves along, like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.
8
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 pots can feel the heat of the thorns— whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.
9
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 be glad when they are avenged, when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.
10
The upright man will be glad when he sees their punishment; his feet will be washed in the blood of the evil-doer.
11 Then people will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.”
11
So that men will say, Truly there is a reward for righteousness; truly there is a God who is judge on the earth.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.