For the director of music. To the tune of ‘Do Not Destroy’. Of David. A miktam.
1Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity?[1]2No, in your heart you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth.3Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.4Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,5that will not heed the tune of the charmer, however skilful the enchanter may be.6Break the teeth in their mouths, O God; Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!7Let them vanish like water that flows away; when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.8May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along, like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.9Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns – whether they be green or dry – the wicked will be swept away.[2]10The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.11Then people will say, ‘Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.’
Psalm 58
English Standard Version
God Who Judges the Earth
1To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam[1] of David. Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?[2] Do you judge the children of man uprightly? (Ps 16:1; Ps 57:1)2No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth. (Ps 94:20)3The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. (Ps 51:5; Isa 48:8)4They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear, (De 32:33; Ps 140:3)5so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter. (Jer 8:17)6O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord! (Job 4:10; Job 29:17; Ps 3:7)7Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted. (Jos 7:5; Ps 64:3; Ps 112:10)8Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun. (Job 3:16; Ps 58:7)9Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away![3] (Job 27:21; Ps 118:12; Pr 10:25; Ec 7:6)10The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked. (De 32:43; Job 22:19; Ps 68:23)11Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.” (Ge 18:25; Job 19:29; Ps 67:4; Ps 94:2; Ec 12:14; Isa 3:10)