Psalm 58–59

Psalm 58

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”

¹Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word?

Do you judge the people fairly?

²No! You plot injustice in your hearts.

You spread violence throughout the land.

³These wicked people are born sinners;

even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.

⁴They spit venom like deadly snakes;

they are like cobras that refuse to listen,

⁵ignoring the tunes of the snake charmers,

no matter how skillfully they play.

⁶Break off their fangs, O God!

Smash the jaws of these lions, O Lord!

⁷May they disappear like water into thirsty ground.

Make their weapons useless in their hands.

⁸May they be like snails that dissolve into slime,

like a stillborn child who will never see the sun.

⁹God will sweep them away, both young and old,

faster than a pot heats over burning thorns.

¹⁰The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged.

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

¹¹Then at last everyone will say,

“There truly is a reward for those who live for God;

surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.”

Psalm 59

For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Saul sent soldiers to watch David’s house in order to kill him. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”

¹Rescue me from my enemies, O God.

Protect me from those who have come to destroy me.

²Rescue me from these criminals;

save me from these murderers.

³They have set an ambush for me.

Fierce enemies are out there waiting, Lord,

though I have not sinned or offended them.

⁴I have done nothing wrong,

yet they prepare to attack me.

Wake up! See what is happening and help me!

⁵O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel,

wake up and punish those hostile nations.

Show no mercy to wicked traitors.

Interlude

⁶They come out at night,

snarling like vicious dogs

as they prowl the streets.

⁷Listen to the filth that comes from their mouths;

their words cut like swords.

“After all, who can hear us?” they sneer.

⁸But Lord, you laugh at them.

You scoff at all the hostile nations.

⁹You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me,

for you, O God, are my fortress.

¹⁰In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me.

He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.

¹¹Don’t kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons;

stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees,

O Lord our shield.

¹²Because of the sinful things they say,

because of the evil that is on their lips,

let them be captured by their pride,

their curses, and their lies.

¹³Destroy them in your anger!

Wipe them out completely!

Then the whole world will know

that God reigns in Israel.

Interlude

¹⁴My enemies come out at night,

snarling like vicious dogs

as they prowl the streets.

¹⁵They scavenge for food

but go to sleep unsatisfied.

¹⁶But as for me, I will sing about your power.

Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love.

For you have been my refuge,

a place of safety when I am in distress.

¹⁷O my Strength, to you I sing praises,

for you, O God, are my refuge,

the God who shows me unfailing love.