Psalm 58–59

Psalm 58

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.

^*Do you rulers indeed speak justly?^a

Do you judge people with equity?

No, in your heart you devise injustice,^b

and your hands mete out violence on the earth.^c

Even from birth the wicked go astray;

from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.

Their venom is like the venom of a snake,^d

like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,

that will not heed^e the tune of the charmer,^f

however skillful the enchanter may be.

Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;^g

Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!^h

Let them vanish like water that flows away;ⁱ

when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.^j

May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,^k

like a stillborn child^l that never sees the sun.

Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns^m—

whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.ⁿ

The righteous will be glad^o when they are avenged,^p

when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.^q

Then people will say,

“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;^r

surely there is a God who judges the earth.”^s

Psalm 59

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house^a in order to kill him.

^*Deliver me from my enemies, O God;^b

be my fortress against those who are attacking me.^c

Deliver me from evildoers^d

and save me from those who are after my blood.^e

See how they lie in wait for me!

Powerful people conspire^f against me

for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.

I have done no wrong,^g yet they are ready to attack me.^h

Arise to help me; look on my plight!ⁱ

You, Lord God Almighty,

you who are the God of Israel,^j

rouse yourself^k to punish all the nations;^l

show no mercy to wicked traitors.^m

They return at evening,

snarling like dogs,ⁿ

and prowl about the city.

See what they spew from their mouths^o—

the words from their lips are sharp as swords,^p

and they think, “Who can hear us?”^q

But you laugh at them, Lord;^r

you scoff at all those nations.^s

You are my strength,^t I watch for you;

you, God, are my fortress,^u

my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before me

and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

But do not kill them, Lord our shield,^v

or my people will forget.^w

In your might uproot them

and bring them down.^x

For the sins of their mouths,^y

for the words of their lips,^z

let them be caught in their pride.^a

For the curses and lies they utter,

consume them in wrath,

consume them till they are no more.^b

Then it will be known to the ends of the earth

that God rules over Jacob.^c

They return at evening,

snarling like dogs,

and prowl about the city.

They wander about for food^d

and howl if not satisfied.

But I will sing^e of your strength,^f

in the morning^g I will sing of your love;^h

for you are my fortress,ⁱ

my refuge in times of trouble.^j

You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

you, God, are my fortress,

my God on whom I can rely.^k