Psalms 58:2-11

2 No, you invent new crimes on earth, and your hands spread violence.

3 [Even] inside the womb wicked people are strangers [to God]. From their birth liars go astray.

4 They have poisonous venom like snakes. They are like a deaf cobra that shuts its ears

5 so that it cannot hear the voice of a snake charmer or of anyone trained to cast spells.

6 O God, knock the teeth out of their mouths. Break the young lions' teeth, O LORD.

7 Let them disappear like water that drains away. When they aim their bows, let their arrows miss the target.

8 Let them become like a snail that leaves behind a slimy trail or like a stillborn child who never sees the sun.

9 Let [God] sweep them away faster than a cooking pot is heated by burning twigs.

10 Righteous people will rejoice when they see [God] take revenge. They will wash their feet in the blood of wicked people.

11 Then people will say, "Righteous people certainly have a reward. There is a God who judges on earth."

Psalms 58:2-11 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. According to the Syriac version, this psalm was written when Saul threatened the priests, because they did not show him where David was, when they knew it. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that the title "Altaschith" refers to David's not destroying Nabal, as he threatened; and that the venom of Nabal's tongue in reviling him, and the deafness of his ears in not attending to the messengers that told their errand wisely, are designed in this psalm; and in which the psalmist prophesies of his sudden death, before the pots for his feast could be warmed by the thorns under them, and while he was lively and jovial. Jarchi is of opinion that it was composed after David had been in the trench where Saul lay, and took away the spear and cruse, and went his way, and called to Abner, saying, "answerest thou not?" which is as if he should say, hast thou it not in thy power now to convince Saul, and show him that he pursues me without cause, since, if I would, I could have slain him? Kimchi says it was written on account of Abner, and the rest of Saul's princes, who judged David as a rebel against the government, and said it was for Saul to pursue after him to slay him; for if they had restrained him, Saul would not have pursued after him; and indeed they seem to be wicked judges who are addressed in this psalm; "do not destroy." Arama says, it declares the wickedness of Saul's judges.