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?
For the leader. Al tashheth. Of David. A michtam. Do you speak what is right, you gods? With equity judge you your people?
2 No, for in your minds you plan evil. You cause violence everywhere!
In the land you practise iniquity – all of you; violence do you dispense with your hands.
3 The wicked are sinners from birth; from the moment they're born they tell lies.
The wicked go astray from the womb liars take the wrong path from their birth.
4 They have venom like that of a poisonous snake, and just like a cobra they stop listening,
Venom have they like the venom of snakes, they are like the deaf adder that stops her ears,
5 refusing to hear the voice of the snake charmers or the spellbinders.
and refuses to listen to the voice of the charmer, or binder of spells, no matter how cunning.
6 God, break their teeth, and smash the jaws of these lions, Lord.
O God, break to pieces the teeth in their mouth, tear out the great teeth of the young lions, Lord.
7 May they vanish like water that flows away; when they shoot their arrows may they miss their mark.
May they melt away like running water! Like tender grass, cut down may they be!
8 May they be like the slime of snails that dissolves away, like a stillborn child that never saw the light of day.
Like the snail that dissolves on its crawling path, like the birth untimely which sees not the sunlight.
9 Before the cooking pot is hot from burning thorns, whether fresh or dry, God will blow them away.
Faster than a thorn-fire heats your pots, he will come with his tempest and sweep them 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 sight of such vengeance will gladden the righteous; their feet they will wash 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.”
People will say, ‘Yes, the just are rewarded: yes, on the earth is a God who is Judge.’
