Psalms 58

1To the Overseer. --`Destroy not.' --A secret treasure, by David. Is it true, O dumb one, righteously ye speak? Uprightly ye judge, O sons of men?

1Unto the end, destroy not, for David for an inscription of a title, when Saul sent and watched his house to kill him.

2Even in heart ye work iniquities, In the land the violence of your hands ye ponder.

2Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; and defend me from them that rise up against me.

3The wicked have been estranged from the womb, They have erred from the belly, speaking lies.

3Deliver me from them that work iniquity, and save me from bloody men.

4Their poison <FI>is<Fi> as poison of a serpent, As a deaf asp shutting its ear,

4For behold they have caught my soul: the mighty have rushed in upon me:

5Which hearkeneth not to the voice of whisperers, A charmer of charms most skilful.

5Neither is it my iniquity, nor my sin, O Lord: without iniquity have I run, and directed my steps.

6O God, break their teeth in their mouth, The jaw-teeth of young lions break down, O Jehovah.

6Rise up thou to meet me, and behold: even thou, O Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel. Attend to visit all the nations: have no mercy on all them that work iniquity.

7They are melted as waters, They go up and down for themselves, His arrow proceedeth as they cut themselves off.

7They shall return at evening, and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.

8As a snail that melteth he goeth on, <FI>As<Fi> an untimely birth of a woman, They have not seen the sun.

8Behold they shall speak with their mouth, and a sword is in their lips: for who, say they, hath heard us?

9Before your pots discern the bramble, As well the raw as the heated He whirleth away.

9But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them: thou shalt bring all the nations to nothing.

10The righteous rejoiceth that he hath seen vengeance, His steps he washeth in the blood of the wicked.

10I will keep my strength to thee: for thou art my protector:

11And man saith: `Surely fruit <FI>is<Fi> for the righteous: Surely there is a God judging in the earth!'

11My God, his mercy shall prevent me.

12(not in this translation)

12God shall let me see over my enemies: slay them not, lest at any time my people forget. Scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord, my protector:

13(not in this translation)

13For the sin of their mouth, and the word of their lips: and let them be taken in their pride. And for their cursing and lying they shall be talked of,

14(not in this translation)

14When they are consumed: when they are consumed by thy wrath, and they shall be no more. And they shall know that God will rule Jacob, and all the ends of the earth.

15(not in this translation)

15They shall return at evening and shall suffer hunger like dogs: and shall go round about the city.

16(not in this translation)

16They shall be scattered abroad to eat, and shall murmur if they be not filled.

17(not in this translation)

17But I will sing thy strength: and will extol thy mercy in the morning. For thou art become my support, and my refuge, in the day of my trouble.

18(not in this translation)

18Unto thee, O my helper, will I sing, for thou art God my defence: my God my mercy.