Psalms 58

1 For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David. Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you 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 No, in your heart you plot injustice. You measure out the violence of your hands in the earth.

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

3 The wicked go astray from the womb. They are wayward as soon as they are born, 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 like the poison of a snake, like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,

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

5 which doesn’t listen to the voice of charmers, no matter how skillful the charmer may be.

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

6 Break their teeth, God, in their mouth. Break out the great teeth of the young lions, Yahweh.

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

7 Let them vanish like water that flows away. When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt.

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

8 Let them be like a snail which melts and passes away, like the stillborn child, who has 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 can feel the heat of the thorns, he will sweep away the green and the burning alike.

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 shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet 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 so that men shall say, “Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges 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.