58 1 He describeth the malice of his enemies, the flatterers of Saul, who both secretly and openly sought his destruction, from whom he appealeth to God’s judgment, 10 Showing that the just shall rejoice, when they see the punishment of the wicked to the glory of God.

To him that excelleth. Destroy not. A Psalm of David on Michtam.

Is it true? O [a]congregation, speak ye justly? O sons of men judge ye uprightly?

Yea, rather ye imagine mischief in your heart: [b]your hands execute cruelty upon the earth.

The wicked [c]are strangers from the womb: even from the belly have they erred, and speak lies.

Their poison is even like the poison of a serpent; like the deaf [d]adder that stoppeth his ear.

Which heareth not the voice of the enchanter, though he be most expert in charming.

Break their [e]teeth, O God, in their mouths: break the jaws of the young lions, O Lord.

Let them [f]melt like the waters, let them pass away; when he shooteth his arrows, let them be as broken.

Let them consume like a snail that melteth, and like the untimely fruit of a woman, that hath not seen the sun.

[g]As raw flesh before your pots feel the fire of thorns: so let them carry them away as with a whirlwind in his wrath.

10 The righteous shall [h]rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the [i]blood of the wicked.

11 And men shall say, [j]Verily there is fruit for the righteous; doubtless there is a God that judgeth in the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 58:1 Ye counselors of Saul, who under pretence of consulting for the common wealth, conspire my death being an innocent.
  2. Psalm 58:2 Ye are not ashamed to execute that cruelty publicly, which ye have imagined in your hearts.
  3. Psalm 58:3 That is, enemies to the people of God even from their birth.
  4. Psalm 58:4 They pass in malice and subtlety the crafty serpent which could preserve himself by stopping his ear from the enchanter.
  5. Psalm 58:6 Take away all occasions and means whereby they hurt.
  6. Psalm 58:7 Considering God’s divine power, he showeth that God in a moment can destroy their force whereof they brag.
  7. Psalm 58:9 As flesh is taken raw out of the pot before the water seethe: so he desireth God to destroy their enterprises before they bring them to pass.
  8. Psalm 58:10 With a pure affection.
  9. Psalm 58:10 Their punishment and slaughter shall be so great.
  10. Psalm 58:11 Seeing God governeth all by his providence, he must needs put difference between the godly and the wicked.

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