Psalm 58

To the chief Musician. ‘Destroy not.’ Of David. Michtam.

1 Is righteousness indeed silent? Do ye speak it? Do ye judge with equity, ye sons of men? 2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth. 3 The wicked go astray from the womb; they err as soon as they are born, speaking lies. 4 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder which stoppeth her ear; 5 Which doth not hearken to the voice of enchanters, of one charming ever so wisely.

6  O God, break their teeth in their mouth; break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Jehovah. 7  Let them melt away as waters that flow off; when he aimeth his arrows, let them be as blunted: 8  Let them be as a snail that melteth as it passeth away; like the untimely birth of a woman, let them not see the sun. 9  Before your pots feel the thorns, green or burning, —they shall be whirled away. 10  The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his footsteps in the blood of the wicked: 11  And men shall say, Verily there is fruit for the righteous; verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.