Psalm 58 (NASB2020)

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.

1Do 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?

2No, in heart you practice injustice;

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

3The wicked have turned away from the womb;

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

4They have venom like the venom of a serpent;

Like a deaf cobra that stops up its ear,

5So 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.

7May 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.

9Before 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.

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

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

Understand Psalm 58

Walk through Psalm 58 verse by verse, then read what three commentaries say about the chapter. The explanations are written for new readers.