Psalm 58[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b]

Do you rulers indeed speak justly?(A)
    Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,(B)
    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.(C)

Even from birth the wicked go astray;
    from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
Their venom is like the venom of a snake,(D)
    like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
that will not heed(E) the tune of the charmer,(F)
    however skillful the enchanter may be.

Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;(G)
    Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!(H)
Let them vanish like water that flows away;(I)
    when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.(J)
May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,(K)
    like a stillborn child(L) that never sees the sun.

Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns(M)
    whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.[c](N)
10 The righteous will be glad(O) when they are avenged,(P)
    when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.(Q)
11 Then people will say,
    “Surely the righteous still are rewarded;(R)
    surely there is a God who judges the earth.”(S)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 58:1 In Hebrew texts 58:1-11 is numbered 58:2-12.
  2. Psalm 58:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 58:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.

15 Then I will give you shepherds(A) after my own heart,(B) who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. 16 In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,” declares the Lord, “people will no longer say, ‘The ark(C) of the covenant of the Lord.’ It will never enter their minds or be remembered;(D) it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. 17 At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne(E) of the Lord, and all nations(F) will gather in Jerusalem to honor(G) the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.(H) 18 In those days the people of Judah will join the people of Israel,(I) and together(J) they will come from a northern(K) land to the land(L) I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.

19 “I myself said,

“‘How gladly would I treat you like my children
    and give you a pleasant land,(M)
    the most beautiful inheritance(N) of any nation.’
I thought you would call me ‘Father’(O)
    and not turn away from following me.
20 But like a woman unfaithful to her husband,
    so you, Israel, have been unfaithful(P) to me,”
declares the Lord.

21 A cry is heard on the barren heights,(Q)
    the weeping(R) and pleading of the people of Israel,
because they have perverted their ways
    and have forgotten(S) the Lord their God.

22 “Return,(T) faithless people;
    I will cure(U) you of backsliding.”(V)

“Yes, we will come to you,
    for you are the Lord our God.
23 Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills(W)
    and mountains is a deception;
surely in the Lord our God
    is the salvation(X) of Israel.
24 From our youth shameful(Y) gods have consumed
    the fruits of our ancestors’ labor—
their flocks and herds,
    their sons and daughters.
25 Let us lie down in our shame,(Z)
    and let our disgrace cover us.
We have sinned(AA) against the Lord our God,
    both we and our ancestors;(AB)
from our youth(AC) till this day
    we have not obeyed(AD) the Lord our God.”

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The Parable of the Great Banquet(A)

15 When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast(B) in the kingdom of God.”(C)

16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’(D)

22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”(E)

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