Psalms 58

1 Do you indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do you judge uprightly, O you sons of men?

“For the leader of the music. To the tune of “Do not destroy.” A psalm of David.” Do ye, indeed, administer justice faithfully, ye mighty ones? Do ye judge with uprightness, ye sons of men?

2 Yes, in heart you work wickedness; you weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

Nay, in your hearts ye contrive iniquity; Your hands weigh out violence in the land!

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

The wicked are estranged, from their very birth; The liars go astray as soon as they are born.

4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stops her ear;

They have poison, like the poison of a serpent; Like the deaf adder's, which stoppeth her ear;

5 Which will not listen to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.

Which listeneth not to the voice of the charmer, And of the sorcerer, skilful in incantations.

6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

Break their teeth, O God! in their mouths! Break out the great teeth of the lions, O LORD!

7 Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bends his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

May they melt like waters, which flow away; May their arrows, when they aim them, be as if cut in pieces!

8 As a snail which melts, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

May they be like the snail, which melteth away as it goeth; Like the abortion of a woman, that seeth not the sun!

9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.

Before your pots feel the heat of the thorns, Whether fresh, or burning, may they be blown away!

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

The righteous shall rejoice, when he seeth such vengeance; He shall bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.

11 So that a man shall say, Truly there is a reward for the righteous: truly he is a God that judges in the earth.

Then shall men say, “Truly there is a reward for the righteous! Truly there is a God who is judge upon the earth!”