Psalm 58–59

Psalm 58

For the choir director; al tashcheth; a miktam by David. 

¹Do you rulers really give fair verdicts? 

Do you judge Adam’s descendants fairly? 

²No, you invent new crimes on earth, 

and your hands spread violence. 

³⸤Even⸥ inside the womb wicked people are strangers ⸤to God⸥. 

From their birth liars go astray. 

⁴They have poisonous venom like snakes. 

They are like a deaf cobra that shuts its ears 

⁵so that it cannot hear the voice of a snake charmer 

or of anyone trained to cast spells. 

⁶O God, knock the teeth out of their mouths. 

Break the young lions’ teeth, O Lord. 

⁷Let them disappear like water that drains away. 

When they aim their bows, let their arrows miss the target. 

⁸Let them become like a snail that leaves behind a slimy trail 

or like a stillborn child who never sees the sun. 

⁹Let ⸤God⸥ sweep them away 

faster than a cooking pot is heated by burning twigs. 

¹⁰Righteous people will rejoice when they see ⸤God⸥ take revenge. 

They will wash their feet in the blood of wicked people. 

¹¹Then people will say, 

“Righteous people certainly have a reward. 

There is a God who judges on earth.” 

Psalm 59

For the choir director; al tashcheth; a miktam by David when Saul sent men to watch David’s home and kill him. 

¹Rescue me from my enemies, O my God. 

Protect me from those who attack me. 

²Rescue me from troublemakers. 

Save me from bloodthirsty people. 

³They lie in ambush for me right here! 

Fierce men attack me, O Lord, 

but not because of any disobedience, 

⁴or any sin, or any guilt on my part. 

They hurry to take positions against me. 

Wake up, and help me; see ⸤for yourself⸥. 

⁵O Lord God of Armies, God of Israel, 

arise to punish all the nations. 

Have no pity on any traitors. 

Selah 

⁶They return in the evening. 

They howl like dogs. 

They prowl the city. 

⁷See what pours out of their mouths— 

swords from their lips! 

⸤They think,⸥ “Who will hear us?” 

⁸O Lord, you laugh at them. 

You make fun of all the nations. 

⁹O my strength, I watch for you! 

God is my stronghold, my merciful God! 

¹⁰God will come to meet me. 

He will let me gloat over those who spy on me. 

¹¹Do not kill them. 

Otherwise, my people may forget. 

Make them wander aimlessly by your power. 

Bring them down, O Lord, our shield, 

¹²⸤because of⸥ the sins from their mouths 

and the words on their lips. 

Let them be trapped by their own arrogance 

because they speak curses and lies. 

¹³Destroy them in your rage. 

Destroy them until not one of them is left. 

Then they will know that God rules Jacob 

to the ends of the earth. 

Selah 

¹⁴They return in the evening. 

They howl like dogs. 

They prowl the city. 

¹⁵They wander around to find something to eat. 

If they are not full enough, 

they will stay all night. 

¹⁶But I will sing about your strength. 

In the morning I will joyfully sing about your mercy. 

You have been my stronghold 

and a place of safety in times of trouble. 

¹⁷O my strength, I will make music to praise you! 

God is my stronghold, my merciful God!