Psalms 58

1 Do you indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do you judge uprightly, O 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 Yes, in heart you work wickedness; you weigh 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 are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be 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 serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stops her ear;

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

5 Which will not listen to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.

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

6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young 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 away as waters which run continually: when he bends his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

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

8 As a snail which melts, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see 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 thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and 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 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 a man shall say, Truly there is a reward for the righteous: truly he is a God that judges 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.