Psalm 58

Prayer for the Punishment of the Wicked.

For the music director; set to #58:0 Lit Do Not DestroyAl-tashheth. A #58:0 Possibly Epigrammatic Poem or Atonement PsalmMikhtam of David.

1 Do you indeed *58:1 Another reading is speak righteousness in silencespeak righteousness, you *58:1 Or mighty ones; or judgesgods?

Do you judge *58:1 Or mankind fairly?fairly, you sons of mankind?

2 No, in heart you practice injustice;

On earth you clear a way for the violence of your hands.

3 The wicked have turned away from the womb;

These who speak lies go astray from *58:3 Lit the wombbirth.

4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent;

Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear,

5 So that it does not hear the voice of *58:5 Or whispererscharmers,

Or a skillful caster of spells.

6 God, shatter their teeth in their mouth;

Break out the fangs of the young lions, Lord.

7 May they flow away like water that runs off;

When he *58:7 Lit bendsaims his arrows, may they be as *58:7 Lit though they were cut offheadless shafts.

8 May they be like a snail which goes along in slime,

Like the miscarriage of a woman that never sees the sun.

9 Before your pots can feel the fire of thorns

He will sweep them away with a whirlwind, the *58:9 Lit livinggreen and the burning alike.

10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees vengeance;

He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

11 And people will say, "There certainly is *58:11 Lit fruita reward for the righteous;

There certainly is a God who judges on the earth!"