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Scripture Mapping

Psalms 58

World English Bible

WEB

1For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David. Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men? 2No, in your heart you plot injustice. You measure out the violence of your hands on the earth. 3The wicked go astray from the womb. They are wayward as soon as they are born, speaking lies. 4Their poison is like the poison of a snake, like a deaf cobra that stops its ear, 5which doesn’t listen to the voice of charmers, no matter how skillful the charmer may be. 6Break their teeth, God, in their mouth. Break out the great teeth of the young lions, Yahweh. 7Let them vanish like water that flows away. When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt. 8Let them be like a snail which melts and passes away, like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun. 9Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns, he will sweep away the green and the burning alike. 10The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked, 11so that men shall say, “Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Psalms 58 is a powerful and evocative psalm attributed to David, expressing a deep concern for justice and the fate of the wicked. The psalm opens with a rhetorical question, asking if rulers indeed speak justly and judge uprightly. David boldly asserts that they are corrupt and their hearts are filled with wickedness, likening them to venomous snakes that refuse to listen to the voice of the charmer (#David, #justice). This imagery emphasizes the danger and deceitfulness of those in power who pervert justice for their own gain.

The psalmist calls for divine intervention, asking God to break the teeth of the wicked and let them vanish like water that runs away. This plea for justice reflects a deep yearning for God to act against those who oppress and harm the innocent. David expresses confidence that the righteous will see the vengeance of God and rejoice when they witness the downfall of the wicked. The psalm concludes with a powerful declaration that there is a reward for the righteous, affirming that God judges the earth and will ultimately bring justice to those who do evil. This chapter serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and the assurance that He will uphold righteousness in His timing.

In summary, Psalms 58 challenges us to reflect on the nature of justice and the importance of standing against wickedness, trusting in God's ultimate authority to right wrongs and protect the innocent. #Psalms #justice #wickedness #righteousness

Study

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Referenced by

  1. Psalms 64:10v10Psalm 64:10 speaks of the righteous rejoicing in the Lord, a theme also found in Psalm 58:10-11, where the righteous are glad when they see God's justice.

Topics in this chapter

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  • Psalms 54King DavidVengeanceGod's Judgment

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