Psalm 58

11 verses · BSBPsalms book hub →

1 Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?

2 No, in your hearts you devise injustice; with your hands you mete out violence on the earth.

3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth.

4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears,

5 refusing to hear the tune of the charmer who skillfully weaves his spell.

6 O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions.

7 May they vanish like water that runs off; when they draw the bow, may their arrows be blunted.

8 Like a slug that dissolves in its slime, like a woman’s stillborn child, may they never see the sun.

9 Before your pots can feel the burning thorns— whether green or dry— He will sweep them away.

10 The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.

11 Then men will say, “There is surely a reward for the righteous! There is surely a God who judges the earth!”

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

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Against unjust judges: 'Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness?' In heart they work wickedness; the wicked are estranged from the womb, venomous as the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear against the charmer. The imprecations fall (break their teeth; let them melt away as water) that the righteous may rejoice when he seeth the vengeance, 'so that men shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth.'

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Poetry · David, Asaph, Sons of Korah, others — Psalms overview

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Psalms 571 verse
- Psalms 57:1Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed.
- Read Psalms 57 →
Isaiah 111 verse
- Isaiah 11:3And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear,
- Read Isaiah 11 →
Psalms 721 verse
- Psalms 72:1Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.
- Read Psalms 72 →
Psalms 941 verse
- Psalms 94:20Can a corrupt throne be Your ally— one devising mischief by decree?
- Read Psalms 94 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Isaiah 101 verse
- Isaiah 10:1Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees,
- Read Isaiah 10 →
Ecclesiastes 31 verse
- Ecclesiastes 3:16Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.
- Read Ecclesiastes 3 →
Psalms 511 verse
- Psalms 51:5Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
- Read Psalms 51 →
Isaiah 481 verse
- Isaiah 48:8You have never heard; you have never understood; for a long time your ears have not been open. For I knew how deceitful you are; you have been called a rebel from birth.
- Read Isaiah 48 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.