Psalms 58
1 To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
For the music director. According to “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm (miktam) of David. You leaders, do you really say what is right? Do you judge people fairly?
2 Yes, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
No, for in your minds you plan evil. You cause violence everywhere!
3 The wicked are estranged from their birth: they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.
The wicked are sinners from birth; from the moment they're born they tell lies.
4 Their poison [is] like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder [that] stoppeth her ear;
They have venom like that of a poisonous snake, and just like a cobra they stop listening,
5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.
refusing to hear the voice of the snake charmers or the spellbinders.
6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
God, break their teeth, and smash the jaws of these lions, Lord.
7 Let them melt away as waters [which] run continually: [when] he bendeth [his bow to shoot] his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.
May they vanish like water that flows away; when they shoot their arrows may they miss their mark.
8 As a snail [which] melteth, 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 slime of snails that dissolves away, like a stillborn child that never saw the light of day.
9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in [his] wrath.
Before the cooking pot is hot from burning thorns, whether fresh or dry, God will blow them away.
10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
Those who live right will be happy when they see there is punishment; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 So that a man shall say, Verily [there is] a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
They will say, “There is definitely a reward for those who live right; there is certainly a God who judges fairly on earth.”
