Psalms 58

1 To him that excelleth. Destroy not. A Psalme of David on Michtam. Is it true? O Congregation, speake ye iustly? O sonnes of men, iudge ye vprightly?

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 Yea, rather ye imagine mischiefe in your heart: your hands execute crueltie vpon the earth.

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

3 The wicked are strangers from ye wombe: euen from the belly haue they erred, and speake lyes.

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 poyson is euen like the poyson of a serpent: like ye deafe adder that stoppeth his eare.

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

5 Which heareth not the voyce of the inchanter, though he be most expert in charming.

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

6 Breake their teeth, O God, in their mouthes: breake the iawes of the yong lions, O Lord.

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 melt like the waters, let them passe away: when hee shooteth his arrowes, let them be as broken.

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 consume like a snayle that melteth, and like the vntimely fruite of a woman, that hath not seene the sunne.

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 As raw flesh before your pots feele the fire of thornes: so let him cary them away as with a whirlewinde in his wrath.

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 reioyce when he seeeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feete 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 And men shall say, Verily there is fruite for the righteous: doutlesse there is a God that iudgeth in 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.