compiled scripting language

would it be possible to convert a scripting language like Python or Ruby so that it compiles directly to machine code? if so would it be as fast as Pascal/Delphi? would it be possible to give languages like Python the option to declare types statically to override the dynamic typing?

Maybe use srfi 49's I-expressions in say, Racket, to translate to the stalin compilers scheme? That would smoke Pascal/Delphi.