God’s Controversy with Israel

(A)Listen to the word of the Lord, you sons of Israel,
Because the Lord has a (B)case against the inhabitants of the land,
For there is (C)no [a]faithfulness, nor [b]loyalty,
Nor (D)knowledge of God in the land.
There is (E)oath-taking, (F)[c]denial, (G)murder, (H)stealing, and (I)adultery.
They employ violence, so that (J)bloodshed [d]follows bloodshed.
Therefore the land (K)mourns,
And everyone who lives in it languishes
Along with the animals of the field and the birds of the sky,
And even the fish of the sea [e]disappear.

Yet let no one [f](L)find fault, and let no one rebuke;
For your people are like those who (M)contend with a priest.
So you will (N)stumble by day,
And the prophet also will stumble with you by night;
And I will destroy your (O)mother.
(P)My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Since you have (Q)rejected knowledge,
I also will (R)reject you from being My priest.
Since you have (S)forgotten the (T)Law of your God,
I also will forget your children.

The more they (U)multiplied, the more they sinned against Me;
I will (V)change their glory into shame.
They (W)feed on the [g]sin of My people,
And (X)long for their wrongdoing.
And it will be, like people, (Y)like priest;
So I will (Z)punish them for their ways
And repay them for their deeds.
10 (AA)They will eat, but not have enough;
They will (AB)play the prostitute, but not [h]increase,
Because they (AC)gave up devoting themselves to the Lord.

11 [i]Infidelity, (AD)wine, and new wine take away the [j]understanding.
12 My people (AE)consult their wooden idol, and their diviner’s wand informs them;
For a spirit of infidelity has led them astray,
And they have been unfaithful, departing [k]from their God.
13 They offer sacrifices on the (AF)tops of the mountains
And [l](AG)burn incense on the hills,
(AH)Under oak, poplar, and terebinth,
Because their shade is pleasant.
Therefore your daughters play the prostitute,
And your [m]brides commit adultery.
14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute,
Or your [n]brides when they commit adultery,
Because the men themselves slip away with the prostitutes
And offer sacrifices with (AI)temple prostitutes;
So the people without understanding are ruined.

15 Though you, Israel, play the prostitute,
Judah must not become guilty;
Also you are not to go to (AJ)Gilgal,
Nor go up to Beth-aven
(AK)And take the oath:
“As the Lord lives!”
16 Since Israel is (AL)stubborn
Like a stubborn cow,
[o]Will the Lord now (AM)pasture them
Like a lamb in a large field?
17 Ephraim is allied with (AN)idols;
(AO)Leave him alone.
18 Their liquor is gone,
They prostitute themselves continually;
[p](AP)Their [q]rulers dearly love shame.
19 (AQ)The wind wraps them in its wings,
And they will be [r]put to shame because of their sacrifices.

The People’s Apostasy Rebuked

Hear this, you priests!
Pay attention, house of Israel!
Listen, you of the house of the king!
For the judgment applies to you,
Because you have been a (AR)trap at Mizpah,
And a net spread out on Tabor.
And the (AS)rebels have (AT)gone deep in [s]depravity,
But I will discipline all of them.
I (AU)know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me;
Because now, Ephraim, you have been unfaithful,
Israel has defiled itself.
Their deeds will not allow them
To return to their God.
For a (AV)spirit of [t]infidelity is within them,
And they (AW)do not know the Lord.
Moreover, the (AX)pride of Israel testifies against him,
And Israel and Ephraim stumble in their wrongdoing;
(AY)Judah also has stumbled with them.
They will (AZ)go with their flocks and herds
To seek the Lord, but they will (BA)not find Him;
He has (BB)withdrawn from them.
They have (BC)dealt treacherously with the Lord,
For they have given birth to [u](BD)illegitimate children.
Now the (BE)new moon will devour them with their [v]land.

(BF)Blow the horn in (BG)Gibeah,
And the trumpet in Ramah.
Sound an alarm at Beth-aven:
(BH)Behind you, Benjamin!”
Ephraim will become a (BI)desolation in the (BJ)day of rebuke;
Among the tribes of Israel I (BK)make known what is trustworthy.
10 The leaders of Judah have become like those who (BL)displace a boundary marker;
On them I will (BM)pour out My anger (BN)like water.
11 Ephraim is (BO)oppressed, broken by judgment,
(BP)Because he was determined to follow [w]man’s command.
12 Therefore I am like a (BQ)moth to Ephraim,
And like rottenness to the house of Judah.
13 When Ephraim saw his sickness,
And Judah his [x]sore,
Ephraim then went to (BR)Assyria
And sent word to [y](BS)King Jareb.
But he is (BT)unable to heal you,
Or to cure you of your [z]sore.
14 For I will be (BU)like a lion to Ephraim
And like a young lion to the house of Judah.
(BV)I, yes I, will tear to pieces and go away,
I will carry away, and there will be (BW)no one to rescue.
15 I will go away and return to My place
Until they [aa](BX)acknowledge their guilt and seek My face;
In their distress they will (BY)search for Me.

The Response to God’s Rebuke

(BZ)Come, let’s return to the Lord.
For (CA)He has torn us, but (CB)He will heal us;
He has [ab]wounded us, but He will (CC)bandage us.
He will (CD)revive us after two days;
He will (CE)raise us up on the third day,
That we may live before Him.
So let’s (CF)learn, let’s press on to know the Lord.
His (CG)appearance is as sure as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the (CH)rain,
As the spring rain waters the earth.”

What shall I do with you, (CI)Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, Judah?
For your loyalty is like a (CJ)morning cloud,
And like the dew which goes away early.
Therefore I have (CK)cut them in pieces by the prophets;
I have slain them by the (CL)words of My mouth;
And the judgments on you are like the light that [ac]shines.
For (CM)I [ad]desire loyalty (CN)rather than sacrifice,
And the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
But (CO)like [ae]Adam they have (CP)violated the covenant;
There they have (CQ)dealt treacherously with Me.
(CR)Gilead is a city of wrongdoers,
Tracked with (CS)bloody footprints.
And as a (CT)band of robbers lie in wait for a person,
So a band of priests (CU)murder on the way to Shechem;
Certainly they have committed an act of (CV)infamy.
10 In the house of Israel I have seen a (CW)horrible thing;
Ephraim’s (CX)infidelity is there, Israel has defiled itself.
11 Also, Judah, there is a (CY)harvest appointed for you,
When I (CZ)restore the fortunes of My people.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:1 Or truth
  2. Hosea 4:1 Or kindness
  3. Hosea 4:2 I.e., of truth
  4. Hosea 4:2 Lit touches
  5. Hosea 4:3 Lit are taken away
  6. Hosea 4:4 Lit contend
  7. Hosea 4:8 Or sin offering
  8. Hosea 4:10 I.e., either in population or wealth
  9. Hosea 4:11 Or Prostitution
  10. Hosea 4:11 Lit heart
  11. Hosea 4:12 Lit from under
  12. Hosea 4:13 Or offer sacrifices
  13. Hosea 4:13 Or daughters-in-law
  14. Hosea 4:14 Or daughters-in-law
  15. Hosea 4:16 Or The Lord will now pasture...field.
  16. Hosea 4:18 Another reading is They dearly love the shame of gifts
  17. Hosea 4:18 Lit shields
  18. Hosea 4:19 Or ashamed
  19. Hosea 5:2 Or slaughter
  20. Hosea 5:4 Or prostitution
  21. Hosea 5:7 Lit strange
  22. Hosea 5:7 Lit portions
  23. Hosea 5:11 Or with some ancient versions, nothingness
  24. Hosea 5:13 Or ulcer
  25. Hosea 5:13 Or another reading is the great king; or the contentious king
  26. Hosea 5:13 Or ulcer
  27. Hosea 5:15 Or suffer their punishment
  28. Hosea 6:1 Lit struck
  29. Hosea 6:5 Lit proceeds
  30. Hosea 6:6 Or take pleasure in
  31. Hosea 6:7 Or men

God’s Charge Against Israel

Hear the word of the Lord,
You children of Israel,
For the Lord brings a (A)charge[a] against the inhabitants of the land:

“There is no truth or mercy
Or (B)knowledge of God in the land.
By swearing and lying,
Killing and stealing and committing adultery,
They break all restraint,
With bloodshed [b]upon bloodshed.
Therefore (C)the land will mourn;
And (D)everyone who dwells there will waste away
With the beasts of the field
And the birds of the air;
Even the fish of the sea will be taken away.

“Now let no man contend, or rebuke another;
For your people are like those (E)who contend with the priest.
Therefore you shall stumble (F)in the day;
The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night;
And I will destroy your mother.
(G)My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
(H)Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.

“The more they increased,
The more they sinned against Me;
(I)I[c] will change [d]their glory into shame.
They eat up the sin of My people;
They set their [e]heart on their iniquity.
And it shall be: (J)like people, like priest.
So I will punish them for their ways,
And [f]reward them for their deeds.
10 For (K)they shall eat, but not have enough;
They shall commit harlotry, but not increase;
Because they have ceased obeying the Lord.

The Idolatry of Israel

11 “Harlotry, wine, and new wine (L)enslave the heart.
12 My people ask counsel from their (M)wooden idols,
And their [g]staff informs them.
For (N)the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray,
And they have played the harlot against their God.
13 (O)They offer sacrifices on the mountaintops,
And burn incense on the hills,
Under oaks, poplars, and terebinths,
Because their shade is good.
(P)Therefore your daughters commit harlotry,
And your brides commit adultery.

14 “I will not punish your daughters when they commit harlotry,
Nor your brides when they commit adultery;
For the men themselves go apart with harlots,
And offer sacrifices with a (Q)ritual harlot.
Therefore people who do not understand will be trampled.

15 “Though you, Israel, play the harlot,
Let not Judah offend.
(R)Do not come up to Gilgal,
Nor go up to (S)Beth[h] Aven,
(T)Nor swear an oath, saying, ‘As the Lord lives’—

16 “For Israel (U)is stubborn
Like a stubborn calf;
Now the Lord will let them forage
Like a lamb in [i]open country.

17 “Ephraim is joined to idols,
(V)Let him alone.
18 Their drink [j]is rebellion,
They commit harlotry continually.
(W)Her [k]rulers [l]dearly love dishonor.
19 (X)The wind has wrapped her up in its wings,
And (Y)they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

Impending Judgment on Israel and Judah

“Hear this, O priests!
Take heed, O house of Israel!
Give ear, O house of the king!
For [m]yours is the judgment,
Because (Z)you have been a snare to Mizpah
And a net spread on Tabor.
The revolters are (AA)deeply involved in slaughter,
Though I rebuke them all.
(AB)I know Ephraim,
And Israel is not hidden from Me;
For now, O Ephraim, (AC)you commit harlotry;
Israel is defiled.

“They[n] do not direct their deeds
Toward turning to their God,
For (AD)the spirit of harlotry is in their midst,
And they do not know the Lord.
The (AE)pride of Israel testifies to his face;
Therefore Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;
Judah also stumbles with them.

“With their flocks and herds
(AF)They shall go to seek the Lord,
But they will not find Him;
He has withdrawn Himself from them.
They have (AG)dealt treacherously with the Lord,
For they have begotten [o]pagan children.
Now a New Moon shall devour them and their heritage.

“Blow(AH) the ram’s horn in Gibeah,
The trumpet in Ramah!
(AI)Cry aloud at (AJ)Beth Aven,
Look behind you, O Benjamin!’
Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke;
Among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure.

10 “The princes of Judah are like those who (AK)remove a landmark;
I will pour out My wrath on them like water.
11 Ephraim is (AL)oppressed and broken in judgment,
Because he willingly walked by (AM)human precept.
12 Therefore I will be to Ephraim like a moth,
And to the house of Judah (AN)like rottenness.

13 “When Ephraim saw his sickness,
And Judah saw his (AO)wound,
Then Ephraim went (AP)to Assyria
And sent to King Jareb;
Yet he cannot cure you,
Nor heal you of your wound.
14 For (AQ)I will be like a lion to Ephraim,
And like a young lion to the house of Judah.
(AR)I, even I, will tear them and go away;
I will take them away, and no one shall rescue.
15 I will return again to My place
Till they [p]acknowledge their offense.
Then they will seek My face;
In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”

A Call to Repentance

Come,(AS) and let us return to the Lord;
For (AT)He has torn, but (AU)He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will [q]bind us up.
(AV)After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
(AW)Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
His going forth is established (AX)as the morning;
(AY)He will come to us (AZ)like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

Impenitence of Israel and Judah

“O Ephraim, what shall I do to you?
O Judah, what shall I do to you?
For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud,
And like the early dew it goes away.
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,
I have slain them by (BA)the words of My mouth;
And [r]your judgments are like light that goes forth.
For I desire (BB)mercy[s] and (BC)not sacrifice,
And the (BD)knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

“But like [t]men they transgressed the covenant;
There they dealt treacherously with Me.
(BE)Gilead is a city of evildoers
And [u]defiled with blood.
As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man,
So the company of (BF)priests (BG)murder on the way to Shechem;
Surely they commit (BH)lewdness.
10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel:
There is the [v]harlotry of Ephraim;
Israel is defiled.
11 Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you,
When I return the captives of My people.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 4:1 A legal complaint
  2. Hosea 4:2 Lit. touching
  3. Hosea 4:7 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; scribal tradition, Syr., Tg. They will change
  4. Hosea 4:7 So with MT, LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; scribal tradition My glory
  5. Hosea 4:8 Desires
  6. Hosea 4:9 repay
  7. Hosea 4:12 Diviner’s rod
  8. Hosea 4:15 Lit. House of Idolatry or Wickedness
  9. Hosea 4:16 Lit. a large place
  10. Hosea 4:18 Or has turned aside
  11. Hosea 4:18 Lit. shields
  12. Hosea 4:18 Heb. difficult; a Jewish tradition shamefully love, ‘Give!’
  13. Hosea 5:1 Or to you
  14. Hosea 5:4 Or Their deeds will not allow them to turn
  15. Hosea 5:7 Lit. strange
  16. Hosea 5:15 Lit. become guilty or bear punishment
  17. Hosea 6:1 Bandage
  18. Hosea 6:5 Or the judgments on you
  19. Hosea 6:6 Or faithfulness or loyalty
  20. Hosea 6:7 Or Adam
  21. Hosea 6:8 Lit. foot-tracked
  22. Hosea 6:10 Spiritual adultery

The Transfiguration

17 (A)Six days later, Jesus *took with Him (B)Peter and [a]James, and his brother John, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You want, (C)I will make three [b]tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, (D)a voice from the cloud said, “(E)This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell [c]face down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and (F)do not be afraid.” And raising their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

(G)When they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, (H)Tell the vision to no one until (I)the Son of Man has (J)risen from the dead.” 10 And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that (K)Elijah must come first?” 11 And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did [d]to him whatever they wanted. So also (L)the Son of Man is going to suffer [e]at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

The Demon-possessed Boy

14 (M)When they came to the crowd, a man came up to [f]Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 15 [g]Lord, have mercy on my son, because he (N)has seizures and suffers terribly; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed [h]at once.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 And He *said to them, “Because of your meager faith; for truly I say to you, (O)if you have faith [i]the size of (P)a mustard seed, you will say to (Q)this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and (R)nothing will be impossible for you.[j]

22 (S)And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be [k]handed over to men; 23 and (T)they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.

The Temple Tax

24 Now when they came to Capernaum, those who collected (U)the [l]two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay (V)the [m]two-drachma tax?” 25 He *said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect (W)customs or [n](X)poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are [o]exempt. 27 However, so that we do not (Y)offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a [p]stater. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 17:1 Or Jacob
  2. Matthew 17:4 Or sacred tents
  3. Matthew 17:6 Lit on their faces
  4. Matthew 17:12 Lit in him; or in his case
  5. Matthew 17:12 Lit by them
  6. Matthew 17:14 Lit Him
  7. Matthew 17:15 Or Sir
  8. Matthew 17:18 Lit from that hour
  9. Matthew 17:20 Lit like
  10. Matthew 17:20 Late mss add (traditionally v 21): But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting
  11. Matthew 17:22 Or betrayed
  12. Matthew 17:24 Equivalent to about two denarii or two days’ wages for a laborer, paid as a temple tax
  13. Matthew 17:24 Equivalent to about two denarii or two days’ wages for a laborer, paid as a temple tax
  14. Matthew 17:25 I.e., a tax on each person in the census
  15. Matthew 17:26 Lit free
  16. Matthew 17:27 A silver four-drachma Greek coin

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount(A)

17 Now (B)after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, [a]let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

(C)While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, (D)“This is My beloved Son, (E)in whom I am well pleased. (F)Hear Him!” (G)And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and (H)touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”

10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, (I)“Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming [b]first and will (J)restore all things. 12 (K)But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they (L)did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise (M)the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 (N)Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

A Boy Is Healed(O)

14 (P)And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is [c]an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O [d]faithless and (Q)perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus (R)rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your [e]unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, (S)if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 [f]However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection(T)

22 (U)Now while they were [g]staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly (V)sorrowful.

Peter and His Master Pay Their Taxes

24 (W)When they had come to [h]Capernaum, those who received the [i]temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

25 He said, “Yes.”

And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from (X)strangers?”

26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a [j]piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 17:4 NU I will make
  2. Matthew 17:11 NU omits first
  3. Matthew 17:15 Lit. moonstruck
  4. Matthew 17:17 unbelieving
  5. Matthew 17:20 NU little faith
  6. Matthew 17:21 NU omits v. 21.
  7. Matthew 17:22 NU gathering together
  8. Matthew 17:24 NU Capharnaum, here and elsewhere
  9. Matthew 17:24 Lit. double drachma
  10. Matthew 17:27 Gr. stater, the exact temple tax for two

Prayer for the Punishment of the Wicked.

For the music director; set to [a]Al-tashheth. A [b]Mikhtam of David.

58 Do you indeed [c]speak righteousness, you [d]gods?
Do you (A)judge [e]fairly, you sons of mankind?
No, in heart you (B)practice injustice;
On earth you (C)clear a way for the violence of your hands.
The wicked have turned away (D)from the womb;
These who speak lies (E)go astray from [f]birth.
They have venom like the (F)venom of a serpent;
Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear,
So that it (G)does not hear the voice of [g](H)charmers,
Or a skillful caster of spells.

God, (I)shatter their teeth in their mouth;
Break out the fangs of the young lions, Lord.
May they (J)flow away like water that runs off;
When he [h](K)aims his arrows, may they be as [i]headless shafts.
May they be like a snail which goes along in slime,
Like the (L)miscarriage of a woman that never sees the sun.
Before your (M)pots can feel the fire of thorns
He will (N)sweep them away with a whirlwind, the [j]green and the burning alike.

10 The (O)righteous will rejoice when he (P)sees vengeance;
He will (Q)wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 And people will say, “There certainly is [k](R)a reward for the righteous;
There certainly is a God who (S)judges on the earth!”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 58 Title Lit Do Not Destroy
  2. Psalm 58 Title Possibly Epigrammatic Poem or Atonement Psalm
  3. Psalm 58:1 Another reading is speak righteousness in silence
  4. Psalm 58:1 Or mighty ones; or judges
  5. Psalm 58:1 Or mankind fairly?
  6. Psalm 58:3 Lit the womb
  7. Psalm 58:5 Or whisperers
  8. Psalm 58:7 Lit bends
  9. Psalm 58:7 Lit though they were cut off
  10. Psalm 58:9 Lit living
  11. Psalm 58:11 Lit fruit

The Just Judgment of the Wicked

To the Chief Musician. Set to [a]“Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David.

58 Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones?
Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?
No, in heart you work wickedness;
You weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.

(A)The wicked are estranged from the womb;
They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
(B)Their poison is like the poison of a serpent;
They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear,
Which will not (C)heed the voice of charmers,
Charming ever so skillfully.

(D)Break[b] their teeth in their mouth, O God!
Break out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
(E)Let them flow away as waters which run continually;
When he bends his bow,
Let his arrows be as if cut in pieces.
Let them be like a snail which melts away as it goes,
(F)Like a stillborn child of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

Before your (G)pots can feel the burning thorns,
He shall take them away (H)as with a whirlwind,
As in His living and burning wrath.
10 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the (I)vengeance;
(J)He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,
11 (K)So that men will say,
“Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
Surely He is God who (L)judges in the earth.”

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 58:1 Heb. Al Tashcheth
  2. Psalm 58:6 Break away