Psalms — Chapter 58

1For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?

2No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.

3The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth.

4Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears,

5refusing to hear the tune of the charmer who skillfully weaves his spell.

6O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.

7May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.

8Like a slug that dissolves in its slime, like a woman’s stillborn child, may they never see the sun.

9Before your pots can feel the burning thorns—whether green or dry—He will sweep them away.

10The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.

11Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”

1Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

2Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

3The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

4Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;

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

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

7Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

8As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

9Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.

10The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

11So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

1Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

2Nay, in heart ye work wickedness; Ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.

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

4Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [They are] like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,

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

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

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

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.

9Before your pots can feel the thorns, He will take them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.

10The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked;

11So that men shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth. Psalm 59 For the Chief Musician; [set to] Al-tashheth. [A Psalm] of David. Michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.

1For the music director, according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David. Do you rulers really pronounce just decisions? Do you judge people fairly?

2No! You plan how to do what is unjust; you deal out violence in the earth.

3The wicked turn aside from birth; liars go astray as soon as they are born.

4Their venom is like that of a snake, like a deaf serpent that does not hear,

5that does not respond to the magicians, or to a skilled snake charmer.

6O God, break the teeth in their mouths! Smash the jawbones of the lions, O Lord.

7Let them disappear like water that flows away. Let them wither like grass.

8Let them be like a snail that melts away as it moves along. Let them be like stillborn babies that never see the sun.

9Before the kindling is even placed under your pots, he will sweep it away along with both the raw and cooked meat.

10The godly will rejoice when they see vengeance carried out; they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.

11Then observers will say, “Yes indeed, the godly are rewarded. Yes indeed, there is a God who judges in the earth.”

1Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11so that men shall say, “Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”