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58 Is it true? O congregation, do you speak justly? O sons of men, do you judge uprightly?

Indeed, rather, you imagine mischief in your heart. Your hands execute cruelty upon the Earth.

The wicked are strangers from the womb. From the belly, they have erred and speak lies.

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; like the deaf adder that stops its ear

It does not hear the voice of the enchanter (though he is most expert in charming).

Break their teeth, O God, in their mouths. Break the jaws of the young lions, O LORD.

Let them melt like the waters. Let them pass away. When he shoots his arrows, let them be broken.

Let them proceed as a snail that melts, and like the stillborn child of a woman who has not seen the Sun.

Before your pots can feel the fire of thorns, let Him carry them away as green, with a whirlwind, in His wrath.

10 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

11 And men shall say, “Truly, there is fruit for the righteous. Doubtless, there is a God Who judges on the Earth.” To him who excels: Do not destroy. A Psalm of David on Michtam, when Saul sent and they watched the house to kill him

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.