Psalms 58

1 For 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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 ¶ To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 As 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.

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

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

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

1 A golden jewel of David, to sing before him, that he perish not.

2 Are ye then dumb, that ye will not speak that which is right, and judge that which is equal, ye children of men?

3 Ye have wrought iniquity in the land, and have gone straight through with your hands to do iniquity.

4 The wicked are perverse from their mother's womb: the liars err from their mother's womb.

5 Their raging is like the raging of a serpent, like a deaf adder that stoppeth his ear,

6 That she hear not the voice of the sorcerer, the conjurer, who is able to conjure.

7 O God, break their teeth in their mouths; bruise, O LORD, the molars of the young lions.

8 they shall melt away as the waters that flow. They aim their arrows, but they break them.

9 They perish as a snail languisheth: as a woman's untimely birth they see not the sun.

10 Before your thorns be ripe in the briers, a wrath shall pluck them away so fresh.

11 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth such vengeance, and shall bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked,

12 And men shall say, The righteous shall enjoy his reward: for God is yet judge on the earth.