Psalm 58: A Rebuke of Unjust Judges
A sharp confrontation of corrupt rulers and a plea for God's justice.
Psalm 58 questions a 'congregation' of judges who work wickedness instead of righteousness, describing the wicked as 'estranged from the womb' and comparing them to 'the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear.' The tone contrasts with the settled praise closing Psalms 57.
For the Leader; Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David; Michtam.
Do ye indeed speak as a righteous company? Do ye judge with equity the sons of men?
Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh out in the earth the violence of your hands.
The wicked are estranged from the womb; the speakers of lies go astray as soon as they are born.
Their venom is like the venom of a serpent; they are like the deaf asp that stoppeth her ear;
Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, or of the most cunning binder of spells.
Break their teeth, O G-d, in their mouth; break out the cheek-teeth of the young lions, O HaShem.
Let them melt away as water that runneth apace; when he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.
Let them be as a snail which melteth and passeth away; like the untimely births of a woman, that have not seen the sun.
Before your pots can feel the thorns, He will sweep it away with a whirlwind, the raw and the burning alike.
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
And men shall say: 'Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily there is a G-d that judgeth in the earth.'