Psalms 58:1
in Psalms 58Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers? Do you judge uprightly, O sons of men?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
KJV
Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
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This verse in Psalms 58
Commentary
4 notes on this verseDo ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation?.... Of the mighty, as in Psa 82:1; the judges of the land, who were many, and therefore called a congregation, as it is necessary they should; for, being many, they are not so easily bribed; and besides, one may see that in a cause which another does not.
This site's exposition
Do you indeed speak justly, O rulers
on Psalms 58:1-2
Verse 1 puts two questions to the men who judge, whether they speak justly and judge uprightly. Verse 2 answers both: in their hearts they devise injustice, and their hands mete out violence. Psalm 82:2 puts the same charge to judges.
The record, by era
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? The enemies of David were a numerous and united band, and because they so unanimously condemned the persecuted one, they were apt to take it for granted that their verdict was a right one. "What everybody says must be true, "is a lying proverb based upon the presumption which comes of large combinations. Have we not all agreed to hound the man to the death, and who dare hint that so many great ones can be mistaken?
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
O congregation--literally, "Oh, dumb"; the word used is never translated "congregation." "Are ye dumb? ye should speak righteousness," may be the translation.
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הַֽאֻמְנָ֗ם | haumnam | ¿ really | H552 → | |
| אֵ֣לֶם | ʾelem | silence | H482 → | |
| צֶ֭דֶק | tzedek | righteousness | H6664 → | 119 times |
| תְּדַבֵּר֑וּן | tedaberun | do you speak ! | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| מֵישָׁרִ֥ים | meisharim | uprightness<es> | H4339 → | 19 times |
| תִּ֝שְׁפְּט֗וּ | tishpetu | do you judge? | H8199 → | 202 times |
| בְּנֵ֣י | benei | [the] children of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| אָדָֽם׃ | ʾadam | humankind | H120 → | 551 times |
הַֽאֻמְנָ֗ם¿ really
haumnamH552 →
אֵ֣לֶםsilence
ʾelemH482 →
צֶ֭דֶקrighteousness
tzedekH6664 →119 times
תְּדַבֵּר֑וּןdo you speak !
tedaberunH1696 →1141 times
מֵישָׁרִ֥יםuprightness<es>
meisharimH4339 →19 times
תִּ֝שְׁפְּט֗וּdo you judge?
tishpetuH8199 →202 times
בְּנֵ֣י[the] children of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
אָדָֽם׃humankind
ʾadamH120 →551 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
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.
it leads to
- Psalms 91:4
He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.
- Psalms 36:7
How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!
- Psalms 17:7–8
Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.
- Psalms 9:10
Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
- Psalms 63:7
For You are my help; I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings.
- Psalms 91:4
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Psalms
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Psalms; Charles Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 3; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament.