< Psalmorum 58 >
1 In finem, ne disperdas. David in tituli inscriptionem. Si vere utique justitiam loquimini, recta judicate, filii hominum.
[For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A poem by David.] Do you rulers indeed speak righteousness? Do you judge blamelessly, you descendants of Adam?
2 Etenim in corde iniquitates operamini; in terra injustitias manus vestræ concinnant.
No, in your heart you plot injustice. You measure out the violence of your hands in the earth.
3 Alienati sunt peccatores a vulva; erraverunt ab utero: locuti sunt falsa.
The wicked go astray from the womb. They are wayward as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
4 Furor illis secundum similitudinem serpentis, sicut aspidis surdæ et obturantis aures suas,
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; like a deaf viper that stops its ear,
5 quæ non exaudiet vocem incantantium, et venefici incantantis sapienter.
which doesn't listen to the voice of charmers, no matter how skillful the charmer may be.
6 Deus conteret dentes eorum in ore ipsorum; molas leonum confringet Dominus.
Break their teeth, God, in their mouth. Break out the great teeth of the young lions, Jehovah.
7 Ad nihilum devenient tamquam aqua decurrens; intendit arcum suum donec infirmentur.
Let them vanish as water that flows away. When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt.
8 Sicut cera quæ fluit auferentur; supercecidit ignis, et non viderunt solem.
Let them be like a snail which melts and passes away, like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun.
9 Priusquam intelligerent spinæ vestræ rhamnum, sicut viventes sic in ira absorbet eos.
Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns, he will sweep away the green and the burning alike.
10 Lætabitur justus cum viderit vindictam; manus suas lavabit in sanguine peccatoris.
The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked;
11 Et dicet homo: Si utique est fructus justo, utique est Deus judicans eos in terra.
so that men shall say, "Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth."