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 Overseer. — 'Destroy not.' — A secret treasure, by David. Is it true, O dumb one, righteously ye speak? Uprightly ye judge, O sons of men?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which hearkeneth not to the voice of whisperers, A charmer of charms most skilful.

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

O God, break their teeth in their mouth, The jaw-teeth of young lions break down, O Jehovah.

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

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

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

As a snail that melteth he goeth on, [As] an untimely birth of a woman, They have not seen the sun.

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

Before your pots discern the bramble, As well the raw as the heated He whirleth away.

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

The righteous rejoiceth that he hath seen vengeance, His steps he washeth in the blood of the wicked.

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

And man saith: 'Surely fruit [is] for the righteous: Surely there is a God judging in the earth!'