Psalms 58

1 “To the chief musician Al-tashcheth, by David, a Michtham.” Do you indeed, who are dumb, speak righteously? do ye judge in uprightness, O ye sons of men?

For the Chief Musician; [set to] Al-tashheth. [A Psalm] of David. Michtam. Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

2 Even in [your] heart ye work injustice: on the earth do ye weigh out the violence of your hands.

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

3 The wicked are estranged [from goodness] from the womb: those who speak lies go astray from their very birth.

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

4 They have poison like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [They are] like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,

5 Which will not hearken to the voice of conjurers, yea, that of the wisest of all charmers.

Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, Charming never so wisely.

6 O God, break out their teeth in their mouth: the jaw-teeth of the young lions tear thou out, 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 [which] runneth off: when each one bendeth [his bow to shoot] his arrows, let them be as if cut in pieces.

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

8 As a snail which melteth, let him pass away; like the untimely birth of a woman which hath not seen the sun.

[Let them be] as a snail which melteth and passeth away, [Like] the untimely birth of a woman, that hath not seen the sun.

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

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

10 The righteous will rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he will bathe his steps in the blood of the wicked.

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

11 So that a man shall say, Verily fruit will come for the righteous: verily there is a God that judgeth on the earth.

So that men shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.