Michtam of David

Verse 1

O ye assembly, do ye now, speak righteousness indeed? In judgment do ye sons of men, With uprightness proceed?

Verse 2

Or do ye mischief in your hearts devise; and with your hand Then weigh, and deal out violence throughout the injur'd land?

Verse 3

The wicked from the womb estrang'd from ev'ry holy way; And from the birth their practice is to lie and go astray.

Verse 4

Ev'n like a serpent's poison is the poison that they bear; And they are like the adder deaf That stops up close her ear.

Verse 5

Who will not hear the charmer's voice, but deaf will still remain; And tho' he charms with utmost skill, can no attention gain.

Verse 6

Break Thou their teeth within their mouths, O GOD of mighty pow'r; The great teeth, LORD, of lions young, prepared to devour.

Verse 7

They shall as waters melt away, which run continually; And all their arrows ready bent that cut to pieces be.

Verse 8

As melting snails shall they dissolve, and all shall pass away; And even like untimely births, that never see the day.

Verse 9

Ere pots perceive the blaze of thorns, He'll seize on them alive; And bare them in his wrath away, as whirlwinds stubble drive.

Verse 10

The righteous shall rejoice when they this righteous vengeance see; And in the blood of impious men their feet shall washed be.

Verse 11

So men shall say; sure for the just there is a recompence; Sure there's a GOD, a Judge on earth, who justice will dispense.