1 Vir die musiekleier; op die wysie van: "Moenie verwoes nie." Van Dawid. 'n Gedig.

2 Spreek julle waarlik geregtigheid, o gode? Oordeel julle die mensekinders regverdig?

3 Ja, julle bedryf ongeregtighede in die hart; julle weeg op aarde die geweld van julle hande af.

4 Afvallig is die goddelose mense van die geboorte af; die leuensprekers dwaal van die moederskoot af.

5 Hulle het gif soos die gif van 'n slang; soos 'n dowe adder wat sy oor toestop,

6 wat nie luister na die stem van die besweerders, van hom wat ervare is om met towerspreuke om te gaan nie.

7 o God, verbreek hulle tande in hulle mond; slaan die tande van die jong leeus uit, o HERE!

8 Laat hulle vergaan soos water wat wegloop; as hy sy pyle rig, laat hulle wees asof hulle stomp geword het.

9 Laat hulle wees soos 'n slak wat wegsmelt so ver as hy loop, soos 'n misgeboorte wat die son nie gesien het nie.

10 Voordat julle potte die doringtak gewaar word, sal Hy dit wegstorm, die rou vleis sowel as die vuurgloed.

11 Die regverdige sal bly wees as hy die wraak sien; hy sal sy voete was in die bloed van die goddelose. [ (Psalms 58:12) En die mense sal sê: Gewis, daar is vrug vir die regverdige; gewis, daar is 'n God wat op die aarde oordeel! ]

1 To the chief music-maker; put to Al-tashheth. Michtam. Of David.

2 \58:1\Is there righteousness in your mouths, O you gods? are you upright judges, O you sons of men?

3 \58:2\The purposes of your hearts are evil; your hands are full of cruel doings on the earth.

4 \58:3\The evil-doers are strange from the first; from the hour of their birth they go out of the true way, saying false words.

5 \58:4\Their poison is like the poison of a snake; they are like the adder, whose ears are shut;

6 \58:5\Who will not be moved by the voice of the wonder-worker, however great are his powers.

7 \58:6\O God, let their teeth be broken in their mouths; let the great teeth of the young lions be pulled out, O Lord.

8 \58:7\Let them be turned to liquid like the ever-flowing waters; let them be cut off like the grass by the way.

9 \58:8\Let them be like an after-birth which is turned to water and comes to an end; like the fruit of a woman who gives birth before her time, let them not see the sun.

10 \58:9\Before they are conscious of it, let them be cut down like thorns; let a strong wind take them away like waste growth.

11 \58:10\The upright man will be glad when he sees their punishment; his feet will be washed in the blood of the evil-doer.

12 \58:11\So that men will say, Truly there is a reward for righteousness; truly there is a God who is judge on the earth.