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 Musician. 'Destroy not.' Of David. Michtam. Is righteousness indeed silent? Do ye speak it? Do ye judge with equity, ye sons of men?
2 No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.
Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth.
The wicked go astray from the womb; they err as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
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 serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder which stoppeth her ear;
5 refusing to hear the tune of the charmer who skillfully weaves his spell.
Which doth not hearken to the voice of enchanters, of one charming ever so wisely.
6 O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.
O God, break their teeth in their mouth; break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Jehovah.
7 May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.
Let them melt away as waters that flow off; when he aimeth his arrows, let them be as blunted:
8 Like a slug that dissolves in its slime, like a woman’s stillborn child, may they never see the sun.
Let them be as a snail that melteth as it passeth away; [like] the untimely birth of a woman, 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 your pots feel the thorns, green or burning, — they shall be whirled away.
10 The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his footsteps in the blood of the wicked:
11 Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”
And men shall say, Verily there is fruit for the righteous; verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.
