GOD IS JUST
Key verse: 11
NIV
Psalm 58[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[b]
1 Do you rulers indeed speak justly?(A)
Do you judge people with equity?
2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,(B)
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.(C)
3 Even from birth the wicked go astray;
from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake,(D)
like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
5 that will not heed(E) the tune of the charmer,(F)
however skillful the enchanter may be.
6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;(G)
Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!(H)
7 Let them vanish like water that flows away;(I)
when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.(J)
8 May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,(K)
like a stillborn child(L) that never sees the sun.
9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns(M)—
whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.[c](N)
10 The righteous will be glad(O) when they are avenged,(P)
when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.(Q)
11 Then people will say,
“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;(R)
surely there is a God who judges the earth.”(S)
Footnotes
- Psalm 58:1 In Hebrew texts 58:1-11 is numbered 58:2-12.
- Psalm 58:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 58:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
Cross references
- Psalm 58:1 : Ps 82:2
- Psalm 58:2 : Mt 15:19
- Psalm 58:2 : Ps 94:20; Isa 10:1; Lk 6:38
- Psalm 58:4 : S Nu 21:6
- Psalm 58:5 : Ps 81:11
- Psalm 58:5 : Ecc 10:11; Jer 8:17
- Psalm 58:6 : Ps 3:7
- Psalm 58:6 : S Job 4:10
- Psalm 58:7 : S Lev 26:36; S Job 11:16
- Psalm 58:7 : Ps 11:2; 57:4; 64:3
- Psalm 58:8 : Isa 13:7
- Psalm 58:8 : S Job 3:16
- Psalm 58:9 : Ps 118:12; Ecc 7:6
- Psalm 58:9 : S Job 7:10; S 21:18
- Psalm 58:10 : S Job 22:19
- Psalm 58:10 : Dt 32:35; Ps 7:9; 91:8; Jer 11:20; Ro 12:17-21
- Psalm 58:10 : Ps 68:23
- Psalm 58:11 : S Ge 15:1; S Ps 128:2; Lk 6:23
- Psalm 58:11 : S Ge 18:25
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
God Who Judges the Earth
To the choirmaster: according to (A)Do Not Destroy. A (B)Miktam[a] of David.58 Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?[b]
Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
your hands (C)deal out violence on earth.
3 The wicked are (D)estranged from the womb;
they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
4 (E)They have venom like the venom of a serpent,
like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
5 so that it (F)does not hear the voice of charmers
or of the cunning enchanter.
6 O God, (G)break the teeth in their mouths;
tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
7 Let them (H)vanish like water that runs away;
when he (I)aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
8 Let them be like the snail (J)that dissolves into slime,
like (K)the stillborn child who never sees the sun.
9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of (L)thorns,
whether green or ablaze, may he (M)sweep them away![c]
10 (N)The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
he will (O)bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is (P)a reward for the righteous;
surely there is a God who (Q)judges on earth.”
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Footnotes
- Psalm 58:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 58:1 Or you mighty lords (by revocalization; Hebrew in silence)
- Psalm 58:9 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
Cross references
- Psalm 58:1 : See Ps. 57, title
- Psalm 58:1 : See Ps. 16, title
- Psalm 58:2 : [Ps. 94:20]
- Psalm 58:3 : Ps. 51:5; Isa. 48:8
- Psalm 58:4 : Ps. 140:3; [Deut. 32:33]
- Psalm 58:5 : Jer. 8:17
- Psalm 58:6 : Ps. 3:7; Job 4:10; 29:17
- Psalm 58:7 : Ps. 112:10; Josh. 7:5
- Psalm 58:7 : Ps. 64:3
- Psalm 58:8 : [See ver. 7 above]; Ps. 112:10; Josh. 7:5
- Psalm 58:8 : See Job 3:16
- Psalm 58:9 : Ps. 118:12; Eccles. 7:6
- Psalm 58:9 : [Job 27:21; See Prov. 10:25]
- Psalm 58:10 : Deut. 32:43; See Job 22:19
- Psalm 58:10 : Ps. 68:23
- Psalm 58:11 : Isa. 3:10
- Psalm 58:11 : Ps. 67:4; 94:2; Gen. 18:25; Job 19:29; Eccles. 12:14
58 Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?[b]
Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
your hands (C)deal out violence on earth.
3 The wicked are (D)estranged from the womb;
they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
4 (E)They have venom like the venom of a serpent,
like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
5 so that it (F)does not hear the voice of charmers
or of the cunning enchanter.
6 O God, (G)break the teeth in their mouths;
tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
7 Let them (H)vanish like water that runs away;
when he (I)aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
8 Let them be like the snail (J)that dissolves into slime,
like (K)the stillborn child who never sees the sun.
9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of (L)thorns,
whether green or ablaze, may he (M)sweep them away![c]
10 (N)The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
he will (O)bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is (P)a reward for the righteous;
surely there is a God who (Q)judges on earth.”
Footnotes
- Psalm 58:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
- Psalm 58:1 Or you mighty lords (by revocalization; Hebrew in silence)
- Psalm 58:9 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain
Cross references
- Psalm 58:1 : See Ps. 57, title
- Psalm 58:1 : See Ps. 16, title
- Psalm 58:2 : [Ps. 94:20]
- Psalm 58:3 : Ps. 51:5; Isa. 48:8
- Psalm 58:4 : Ps. 140:3; [Deut. 32:33]
- Psalm 58:5 : Jer. 8:17
- Psalm 58:6 : Ps. 3:7; Job 4:10; 29:17
- Psalm 58:7 : Ps. 112:10; Josh. 7:5
- Psalm 58:7 : Ps. 64:3
- Psalm 58:8 : [See ver. 7 above]; Ps. 112:10; Josh. 7:5
- Psalm 58:8 : See Job 3:16
- Psalm 58:9 : Ps. 118:12; Eccles. 7:6
- Psalm 58:9 : [Job 27:21; See Prov. 10:25]
- Psalm 58:10 : Deut. 32:43; See Job 22:19
- Psalm 58:10 : Ps. 68:23
- Psalm 58:11 : Isa. 3:10
- Psalm 58:11 : Ps. 67:4; 94:2; Gen. 18:25; Job 19:29; Eccles. 12:14
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
In this psalm, David writes about unjust and violent rulers (vv. 1-2). The world we live in is also full of unjust individuals, thoughts, and influences. That is why Jesus said to us, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). On this earth, there will always be evil influences, no matter where we go. We can only pray for discernment and remain pure and holy in His sight, through our faith in Jesus.
Here, David expresses anger towards the wicked and prays for God’s vengeance on them: “Break their teeth… Let them vanish like water” (6-8). When we encounter injustice, it is easy to take matters into our own hands, or question God’s goodness considering the wrongdoing. However, we must fully trust in God’s perfect wisdom and righteousness and surrender our own judgments. We must prayerfully wait for God’s holy judgments to be carried out in his time.
Prayer: Lord, please help us experience your righteousness and justice more clearly as we trust in your judgement.
One Word: God is just
