To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David

1 Do ye, O congregation,
Speak righteousness indeed?
In judgment do ye sons of men,
With uprightness proceed?
2 Ye you injuroius wickedness
In heart will working be:
The weight of your hands violence
Weigh out i'th' land do ye.

3 The wicked are estranged from
The womb, they go astray,
And even from the belly they
Their falshood do display.
4 Ev'n like a serpent's poison is
The poison that they bear;
They are like as the adder deaf
That stoppeth up her ear.

5 Who will not hearken to the voice,
O such as charmers are;
Although the charmer in his charms
None of his cunning spare.
6 Within their mouth do thou their teeth
Break out, O God most strong:
Do thou, O Lord, the mighty teeth
Break of the lions young.

7 As waters let them melt away,
Continually that flee:
And when he bends his shafts, let them,
As cut asunder be.
8 As melts a snail, let ev'ry one
Of them away so run:
Like women's timeless birth, that they
May never see the sun.

9 Before your pots can feel the thorns
So shall he them surprise,
As with a whirlwind; both alive
And in most wrathful wise.
10 The righteous shall rejoyce when as
He doth the vengeance see:
He shall his feet wash in the blood
Of them that wicked be.
11 So men shall say assuredly,
There's for the righteous fruit;
Sure there's a God that in the earth
Doth judgment execute


Source: The Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New-Testament: faithfully translated into English metre: for the use, edification, and comfort of the saints...especially in New-England (25th ed) #PLVIII