Psalms 58

1 TO THE OVERSEER. “DO NOT DESTROY.” A MIKTAM OF DAVID. Is it true, O silent one, that you speak righteously? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?

To the chief music-maker; put to Al-tashheth. Michtam. Of David. Is there righteousness in your mouths, O you gods? are you upright judges, O you sons of men?

2 Even in heart you work iniquities, In the land you ponder the violence of your hands.

The purposes of your hearts are evil; your hands are full of cruel doings on the earth.

3 The wicked have been estranged from the womb, They have erred from the belly, speaking lies.

The evil-doers are strange from the first; from the hour of their birth they go out of the true way, saying false words.

4 Their poison [is] as poison of a serpent, As a deaf cobra shutting its ear,

Their poison is like the poison of a snake; they are like the adder, whose ears are shut;

5 Which does not listen to the voice of whisperers, A charmer of most skillful charms.

Who will not be moved by the voice of the wonder-worker, however great are his powers.

6 O God, break their teeth in their mouth, Break down the jaw-teeth of young lions, O YHWH.

O God, let their teeth be broken in their mouths; let the great teeth of the young lions be pulled out, O Lord.

7 They are melted as waters, They go up and down for themselves, His arrow proceeds as they cut themselves off.

Let them be turned to liquid like the ever-flowing waters; let them be cut off like the grass by the way.

8 He goes on as a snail that melts, [As] an untimely birth of a woman, They have not seen the sun.

Let them be like an after-birth which is turned to water and comes to an end; like the fruit of a woman who gives birth before her time, let them not see the sun.

9 Before your pots discern the bramble, As living, He whirls away in His burning anger.

Before they are conscious of it, let them be cut down like thorns; let a strong wind take them away like waste growth.

10 The righteous rejoices that he has seen vengeance, He washes his steps in the blood of the wicked.

The upright man will be glad when he sees their punishment; his feet will be washed in the blood of the evil-doer.

11 And man says: “Surely fruit [is] for the righteous: Surely there is a God judging in the earth!”

So that men will say, Truly there is a reward for righteousness; truly there is a God who is judge on the earth.