Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?
Psalm 58:1
Berean Standard Bible · 11 verses
Psalm 58, attributed to David, confronts unjust rulers and judges who plan wrong and spread violence. In strong, vivid images it asks God to break their power. It ends with the conviction that doing right is not in vain and that God really does judge the world.
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David.
1Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?
2No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.
3The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth.
4Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears,
5refusing to hear the tune of the charmer who skillfully weaves his spell.
6O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.
7May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.
8Like a slug that dissolves in its slime, like a woman’s stillborn child, may they never see the sun.
9Before your pots can feel the burning thorns— whether green or dry— He will sweep them away.
10The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their 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!”
Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?
Psalm 58:1
No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.
Psalm 58:2
Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”
Psalm 58:11