< Psalms 58 >

1 When you mighty men speak, you never say what is right; you never decide things about people justly [RHQ]! 2 No, in your inner beings you think only about doing what is wrong, and you commit violent crimes in this land [of Israel]. 3 Wicked people do wrong things and tell lies from the time that they are born [DOU]. 4 God, show in the heavens how great you are! And show your glory to people all over the earth! What wicked people say [injures people like] the venom of a snake [MET]; They refuse to listen to good advice, [as though they were] cobras that were deaf [MET]! 5 As a result, [like a snake that does not respond when] a charmer plays a flute or when someone sings magic songs, [they do not pay attention when others rebuke them]. 6 God, as for these enemies who [want to attack me like] young lions, break their teeth! 7 Cause them to disappear like water disappears [in dry ground]! Cause the arrows that they shoot to have no (heads/sharp points)! 8 Cause them to become like snails that disappear in the slime; cause them to be like babies that are born dead! 9 Get rid of them [as fast as] thornbushes are blown away [after they are cut] (OR, [as fast as] a fire heats a pot over burning thorns). 10 Righteous people will rejoice when they see wicked people being punished as they deserve; they will wash their feet in the blood of wicked people. 11 [Then] people will say, “It is true that there is a reward for righteous people; and there is indeed a God who judges people justly here on the earth!”

< Psalms 58 >