Prayer for the Punishment of the Wicked.

For the music director; set to [a]Al-tashheth. A [b]Mikhtam of David.

58 Do you indeed [c]speak righteousness, you [d]gods?
Do you (A)judge [e]fairly, you sons of mankind?
No, in heart you (B)practice injustice;
On earth you (C)clear a way for the violence of your hands.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 58 Title Lit Do Not Destroy
  2. Psalm 58 Title Possibly Epigrammatic Poem or Atonement Psalm
  3. Psalm 58:1 Another reading is speak righteousness in silence
  4. Psalm 58:1 Or mighty ones; or judges
  5. Psalm 58:1 Or mankind fairly?

Psalm 58[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b]

Do you rulers indeed speak justly?(A)
    Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,(B)
    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 58:1 In Hebrew texts 58:1-11 is numbered 58:2-12.
  2. Psalm 58:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

23 Your (A)rulers are rebels
And companions of thieves;
Everyone (B)loves a bribe
And chases after gifts.
They (C)do not obtain justice for the [a]orphan,
Nor does the widow’s case come before them.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 1:23 Or fatherless

23 Your rulers are rebels,(A)
    partners with thieves;(B)
they all love bribes(C)
    and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
    the widow’s case does not come before them.(D)

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