Book of Psalms, psalm 58

To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David.

Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;

Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.

Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.

The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.

a) 58.1 Al-taschith…: or, Destroy not

b) 58.1 Michtam: or, A golden Psalm

c) 58.3 as soon…: Heb. from the belly

d) 58.4 like the poison: Heb. according to the likeness, etc

e) 58.4 adder: or, asp

f) 58.5 charming…: or, be the charmer never so cunning

g) 58.9 both…: Heb. as living as wrath

h) 58.11 a reward…: Heb. fruit of the, etc