Psalms 58 — AAB

God Judges the Earth

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

58Verse 1Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers?Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?^{Verse 2}No, in your hearts you devise injustice;with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.^{Verse 3}The wicked are estranged from the womb;the liars go astray from birth.^{Verse 4}Their venom is like the venom of a snake,like a cobra that shuts its ears,^{Verse 5}refusing to hear the tune of the charmerwho skillfully weaves his spell.^{Verse 6}O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths;O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.^{Verse 7}May they vanishlike water that runs off;when they draw the bow,may their arrows be blunted.^{+Verse 8}Like a slug that dissolves in its slime,like a woman’s stillborn child,
may they never see the sun.^{Verse 9}Before your pots can feel the burning thorns—whether green or dry—
He will sweep them away.^{Verse 10}The righteous will rejoicewhen they see they are avenged;they will wash their feetin the blood of the wicked.^{Verse 11}Then men will say,“There is surely a reward for the righteous!
There is surely a God who judges the earth!”