58
Psalm 58 – A Prayer for Vengeance on Unjust Judges
For the leader. Al tashheth. Of David. A michtam.
1 Do you speak what is right, you gods?
With equity judge you your people?
2 In the land you practise iniquity – all of you;
violence do you dispense with your hands.
3 The wicked go astray from the womb
liars take the wrong path from their birth.
4 Venom have they like the venom of snakes,
they are like the deaf adder that stops her ears,
5 and refuses to listen to the voice of the charmer,
or binder of spells, no matter how cunning.
6 O God, break to pieces the teeth in their mouth,
tear out the great teeth of the young lions, Lord.
7 May they melt away like running water!
Like tender grass, cut down may they be!
8 Like the snail that dissolves on its crawling path,
like the birth untimely which sees not the sunlight.
9 Faster than a thorn-fire heats your pots,
he will come with his tempest and sweep them away.
10 The sight of such vengeance will gladden the righteous;
their feet they will wash in the blood of the wicked.
11 People will say, ‘Yes, the just are rewarded:
yes, on the earth is a God who is Judge.’