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Unfair Judges

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A miktam [C perhaps “inscription”] of David.

58 Do you ·rulers [or silent ones; or gods; C sometimes spiritual beings such as angels are called “gods” in the OT; 82:1] really say what is ·right [righteous]?
    Do you judge people ·fairly [with integrity]?
No, in your heart you plan evil;
    you ·think up [dispense] ·violent crimes [violence] in the land.
From ·birth [L the womb], evil people ·turn away [go astray] from God;
    they wander off and tell lies ·as soon as they are born [L from the belly; C another word for the womb; 51:5].
They ·are [L have poison/venom] like ·poisonous [venomous] snakes,
    like deaf cobras that ·stop [plug] up their ears
so they cannot hear the music of the snake charmer
    no matter how ·well he plays [wisely/skillfully he enchants].

God, break the teeth in their mouths!
    ·Tear out [Uproot] the fangs of those lions, Lord!
Let them ·disappear [vanish] like water that flows away.
    Let them ·be cut short like a broken arrow [L draw their arrows like they are cut off].
Let them be like ·snails [slugs] that ·melt [dissolve] as they move [C snails leave a slime as they move].
    Let them be like a ·child born dead [stillborn] who never saw the sun.
His anger will blow them away alive
    faster than burning thorns can heat a pot [C likely a reference to quick retribution].
10 ·Good [Righteous] people will be glad when they see ·him get even [vengeance].
    They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked [Is. 63:1–6; Rev. 14:19–20; 19:13–14].
11 Then people will say,
    “There really are ·rewards [fruits] for ·doing what is right [the righteous].
There really is a God who judges the ·world [earth; land].”

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