Psalms 58
1 For the music director. According to “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm (miktam) of David. You leaders, do you really say what is right? Do you judge people fairly?
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, for in your minds you plan evil. You cause violence everywhere!
Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.
3 The wicked are sinners from birth; from the moment they're born they tell lies.
The wicked go astray from the womb; they err as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
4 They have venom like that of a poisonous snake, and just like a cobra they stop listening,
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder which stoppeth her ear;
5 refusing to hear the voice of the snake charmers or the spellbinders.
Which doth not hearken to the voice of enchanters, of one charming ever so wisely.
6 God, break their teeth, and smash the jaws of these lions, Lord.
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 flows away; when they shoot their arrows may they miss their mark.
Let them melt away as waters that flow off; when he aimeth his arrows, let them be as blunted:
8 May they be like the slime of snails that dissolves away, like a stillborn child that never saw the light of day.
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 the cooking pot is hot from burning thorns, whether fresh or dry, God will blow them away.
Before your pots feel the thorns, green or burning, — they shall be whirled away.
10 Those who live right will be happy when they see there is punishment; 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 They will say, “There is definitely a reward for those who live right; there is certainly a God who judges fairly on earth.”
And men shall say, Verily there is fruit for the righteous; verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.
