(A special psalm by David for the music leader. To the tune "Don’t Destroy."Psalm 58 Don’t Destroy: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.)
A Prayer When All Goes Wrong
1 Do you mighty people58.1 mighty people: Or "mighty rulers" or "mighty gods." talk
only to oppose justice?58.1 Do … justice: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Don’t you ever judge fairly?
2 You are always planning evil,
and you are brutal.
3 You have done wrong and lied
from the day you were born.
4 Your words spread poison
like the bite of a cobra
5 that refuses to listen
to the snake charmer.
6 My enemies are fierce
as lions, Lord God!
Shatter their teeth.
Snatch out their fangs.
7 Make them disappear
like leaking water,
and make their arrows miss.
8 Let them dry up like snails
or be like a child that dies
before seeing the sun.
9 Wipe them out quicker
than a pot can be heated
by setting thorns on fire.58.9 Wipe … fire: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
10 Good people will be glad
when they see the wicked
getting what they deserve,
and they will wash their feet
in their enemies' blood.
11 Everyone will say, "It’s true!
Good people are rewarded.
God does indeed rule the earth
with justice."