Psalm 58

Psalm 58

A Cry against Injustice

For the choir director: “Do Not Destroy.” ^rA Davidic Miktam.

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

Do you judge people fairly? ^t

²No, you practice injustice in your hearts;

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

³The wicked go astray from the womb;

liars err from birth. ^v

⁴They have venom like the venom of a snake,

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

⁵that does not listen to the sound of the charmers

who skillfully weave spells. ^x

⁶God, knock the teeth out of their mouths;

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

⁷They will vanish like water that flows by;

they will aim their useless arrows. ^zab

⁸Like a slug that moves along in slime,

like a woman’s miscarried child,

they will not see the sun. ^c

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

whether green or burning—

He will sweep them away. ^de

¹⁰The righteous one will rejoice

when he sees the retribution; ^f

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

¹¹Then people will say,

“Yes, there is a reward for the righteous!

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