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?

“For the leader of the music. To the tune of “Do not destroy.” A psalm of David.” Do ye, indeed, administer justice faithfully, ye mighty ones? Do ye judge with uprightness, ye sons of men?

2 No, in your heart you plot injustice. You measure out the violence of your hands in the earth.

Nay, in your hearts ye contrive iniquity; Your hands weigh out violence in the land!

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

The wicked are estranged, from their very birth; The liars go astray as soon as they are born.

4 Their poison is like the poison of a snake, like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,

They have poison, like the poison of a serpent; Like the deaf adder's, which stoppeth her ear;

5 which does not listen to the voice of charmers, no matter how skillful the charmer may be.

Which listeneth not to the voice of the charmer, And of the sorcerer, skilful in incantations.

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

Break their teeth, O God! in their mouths! Break out the great teeth of the lions, O LORD!

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

May they melt like waters, which flow away; May their arrows, when they aim them, be as if cut in pieces!

8 Let them be like a snail which melts and passes away, like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun.

May they be like the snail, which melteth away as it goeth; Like the abortion of a woman, that seeth not the sun!

9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns, he will sweep away the green and the burning alike.

Before your pots feel the heat of the thorns, Whether fresh, or burning, may they be blown away!

10 The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,

The righteous shall rejoice, when he seeth such vengeance; He shall bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.

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.”

Then shall men say, “Truly there is a reward for the righteous! Truly there is a God who is judge upon the earth!”