Psalms 58

1 For the Leader; Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David; Michtam. Do ye indeed speak as a righteous company? Do ye judge with equity the sons of men?

Do ye indeed speak righteousness in silence? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh out in the earth the violence of your hands.

No! 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 speakers of lies go astray as soon as they are born.

The wicked are estranged from the womb. They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

4 Their venom is like the venom of a serpent; they are like the deaf asp that stoppeth her ear;

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops her ear,

5 Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, or of the most cunning binder of spells.

which hearkens not to the voice of charmers, charming ever so wisely.

6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth; break out the cheek-teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth. Break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Jehovah.

7 Let them melt away as water that runneth apace; when he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.

Let them melt away as water that runs with haste. When he aims his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off,

8 Let them be as a snail which melteth and passeth away; like the untimely births of a woman, that have not seen the sun.

as a snail which melts and passes away, as the untimely birth of a woman, that has not seen the sun.

9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, He will sweep it away with a whirlwind, the raw and the burning alike.

Before your pots can feel the thorns, he will take them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.

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

A righteous man shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,

11 And men shall say: 'Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.'

so that men shall say, Truly there is a reward for the righteous man. Truly there is a God who judges in the earth.