Psalms 58

1 For the Chief Musician; [set to] Al-tashheth. [A Psalm] of David. Michtam. Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye 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 Nay, in heart ye work wickedness; Ye weigh 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 are estranged from the womb: They go astray 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 serpent: [They are] like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,

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

5 Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, Charming never so wisely.

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

6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: Break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Jehovah.

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

7 Let them melt away as water that runneth apace: When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.

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] as a snail which melteth and passeth away, [Like] the untimely birth of a woman, that hath 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 thorns, He will take them away with a whirlwind, 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 seeth 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, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: Verily there is a God that judgeth in 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!”