Psalm 58–59

Psalm 58

A CRY AGAINST INJUSTICE

For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David.

¹Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones?^C

Do you judge people fairly?^e

²No, you practice injustice in your hearts;

with your hands you weigh out violence in the land.^f

³The wicked go astray from the womb;

liars wander about from birth.^g

⁴They have venom like the venom of a snake,

like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears,^h

⁵that does not listen to the sound of the charmers

who skillfully weave spells.ⁱ

⁶God, knock the teeth out of their mouths;

Lord, tear out the young lions’ fangs.^j

⁷May they vanish like water that flows by;

may they aim their blunted arrows.^Ak

⁸Like a slug that moves along in slime,

like a woman’s miscarried child,

may they not see the sun.^l

⁹Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—

whether green or burning—

he will sweep them away.^Bm

¹⁰The righteous one will rejoice

when he sees the retribution;ⁿ

he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.^o

¹¹Then people will say,

“Yes, there is a reward for the righteous!

There is a God who judges on earth!”^p

Psalm 59

GOD OUR STRONGHOLD

For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David. When Saul sent agents to watch the house and kill him.^q

¹Rescue me from my enemies, my God;^r

protect me from those who rise up against me.^s

²Rescue me from evildoers,

and save me from men of bloodshed.^t

³Because look, Lord, they set an ambush for me.^u

Powerful men attack me,

but not because of any sin or rebellion of mine.^v

⁴For no fault of mine,

they run and take up a position.

Awake to help me, and take notice.^w

⁵Lord God of Armies, you are the God of Israel.

Rise up to punish all the nations;

do not show favor to any wicked traitors.^x

Selah

⁶They return at evening, snarling like dogs

and prowling around the city.^y

⁷Look, they spew from their mouths—

sharp words from^C their lips.^z

“For who,” they say, “will hear?”^aa

⁸But you laugh at them, Lord;

you ridicule all the nations.^ab

⁹I will keep watch for you, my^D strength,

because God is my stronghold.^ac

¹⁰My faithful God^A will come to meet me;

God will let me look down on my adversaries.^ad

¹¹Do not kill them; otherwise, my people will forget.

By your power, make them homeless wanderers^ae

and bring them down,

Lord, our shield.^a

¹²For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips,

let them be caught in their pride.

They utter curses and lies.^b

¹³Consume them in fury;

consume them until they are gone.^c

Then people will know throughout^B the earth

that God rules over Jacob.^d

Selah

¹⁴And they return at evening, snarling like dogs

and prowling around the city.^e

¹⁵They scavenge for food;

they growl if they are not satisfied.^f

¹⁶But I will sing of your strength

and will joyfully proclaim

your faithful love in the morning.^g

For you have been a stronghold for me,

a refuge in my day of trouble.^h

¹⁷To you, my strength, I sing praises,

because God is my stronghold—

my faithful God.ⁱ