Psalms 58

1 When you mighty men speak, you never say what is right; you never decide things about people justly [RHQ]!

For the music director. According to “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm (miktam) of David. You leaders, do you really say what is right? Do you judge people fairly?

2 No, in your inner beings you think only about doing what is wrong, and you commit violent crimes in this land [of Israel].

No, for in your minds you plan evil. You cause violence everywhere!

3 Wicked people do wrong things and tell lies from the time that they are born [DOU].

The wicked are sinners from birth; from the moment they're born they tell lies.

4 God, show in the heavens how great you are! And show your glory to people all over the earth! What wicked people say [injures people like] the venom of a snake [MET]; They refuse to listen to good advice, [as though they were] cobras that were deaf [MET]!

They have venom like that of a poisonous snake, and just like a cobra they stop listening,

5 As a result, [like a snake that does not respond when] a charmer plays a flute or when someone sings magic songs, [they do not pay attention when others rebuke them].

refusing to hear the voice of the snake charmers or the spellbinders.

6 God, as for these enemies who [want to attack me like] young lions, break their teeth!

God, break their teeth, and smash the jaws of these lions, Lord.

7 Cause them to disappear like water disappears [in dry ground]! Cause the arrows that they shoot to have no (heads/sharp points)!

May they vanish like water that flows away; when they shoot their arrows may they miss their mark.

8 Cause them to become like snails that disappear in the slime; cause them to be like babies that are born dead!

May they be like the slime of snails that dissolves away, like a stillborn child that never saw the light of day.

9 Get rid of them [as fast as] thornbushes are blown away [after they are cut] (OR, [as fast as] a fire heats a pot over burning thorns).

Before the cooking pot is hot from burning thorns, whether fresh or dry, God will blow them away.

10 Righteous people will rejoice when they see wicked people being punished as they deserve; they will wash their feet in the blood of wicked people.

Those who live right will be happy when they see there is punishment; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.

11 [Then] people will say, “It is true that there is a reward for righteous people; and there is indeed a God who judges people justly here on the earth!”

They will say, “There is definitely a reward for those who live right; there is certainly a God who judges fairly on earth.”