Keraia
Wisdom and Poetry

Psalm 58

God Judges the Earth

1For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David.

Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers?

Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?

1For the one directing. “Do not Destroy.” Of David. a Miktam. O silent ones, Is it truly righteousness you speak? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of man?

2No, in your hearts you devise injustice;

with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.

2Even in the heart you work iniquities; in the earth you weigh out the violence of your hands.

3The wicked are estranged from the womb;

the liars go astray from birth.

3The wicked are estranged from the womb; they have gone astray from the belly, speaking lies.

4Their venom is like the venom of a snake,

like a cobra that shuts its ears,

4Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like the deaf cobra that stops up its ear,

5refusing to hear the tune of the charmer

who skillfully weaves his spell.

5which will not listen to the voice of those whispering—charmers most skillfully charming.

6O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths;

O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.

6O God, may You break their teeth in their mouths; tear out the great teeth of the young lions, O YHWH!

7May they vanish

like water that runs off;

when they draw the bow,

may their arrows be blunted.

7Let them flow away like waters, running continually to themselves; he treads the bow—may his arrows be as though cut in pieces.

8Like a slug that dissolves in its slime,

like a woman’s stillborn child,

may they never see the sun.

8Like a snail melting as it goes, the stillborn child of a woman, may they not see the sun!

9Before your pots can feel the burning thorns—

whether green or dry—

He will sweep them away.

9Before your pots can discern the thorn, as those living, as burning wrath He sweeps them away.

10The righteous will rejoice

when they see they are avenged;

they will wash their feet

in the blood of the wicked.

10The righteous one will rejoice when he has seen vengeance; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

11Then men will say,

“There is surely a reward for the righteous!

There is surely a God who judges the earth!”

11Then man will say, “Surely fruit is for the righteous; surely there is a God judging the earth!”