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. Al tashheth. Of David. A michtam. Do you speak what is right, you gods? With equity judge you your people?

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

In the land you practise iniquity – all of you; violence do you dispense with your hands.

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

The wicked go astray from the womb liars take the wrong path from their birth.

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

Venom have they like the venom of snakes, they are like the deaf adder that stops her ears,

5 which doesn’t listen to the voice of charmers, no matter how skilful the charmer may be.

and refuses to listen to the voice of the charmer, or binder of spells, no matter how cunning.

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

O God, break to pieces the teeth in their mouth, tear out the great teeth of the young lions, Lord.

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

May they melt away like running water! Like tender grass, cut down may they be!

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

Like the snail that dissolves on its crawling path, like the birth untimely which sees not the sunlight.

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

Faster than a thorn-fire heats your pots, he will come with his tempest and sweep them away.

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

The sight of such vengeance will gladden the righteous; their feet they will wash 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.”

People will say, “Yes, the just are rewarded: yes, on the earth is a God who is Judge.”