Psalms 58
1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?
To the chief music-maker; put to Al-tashheth. Michtam. Of David. Is there righteousness in your mouths, O you gods? are you upright judges, O you sons of men?
2 No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.
The purposes of your hearts are evil; your hands are full of cruel doings on the earth.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth.
The evil-doers are strange from the first; from the hour of their birth they go out of the true way, saying false words.
4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears,
Their poison is like the poison of a snake; they are like the adder, whose ears are shut;
5 refusing to hear the tune of the charmer who skillfully weaves his spell.
Who will not be moved by the voice of the wonder-worker, however great are his powers.
6 O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.
O God, let their teeth be broken in their mouths; let the great teeth of the young lions be pulled out, O Lord.
7 May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.
Let them be turned to liquid like the ever-flowing waters; let them be cut off like the grass by the way.
8 Like a slug that dissolves in its slime, like a woman’s stillborn child, may they never see the sun.
Let them be like an after-birth which is turned to water and comes to an end; like the fruit of a woman who gives birth before her time, let them not see the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the burning thorns— whether green or dry— He will sweep them away.
Before they are conscious of it, let them be cut down like thorns; let a strong wind take them away like waste growth.
10 The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
The upright man will be glad when he sees their punishment; his feet will be washed in the blood of the evil-doer.
11 Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”
So that men will say, Truly there is a reward for righteousness; truly there is a God who is judge on the earth.
