Psalm 58a

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

1 Do you rulers indeed speak justly?c

Do you judge people with equity?

2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,d

and your hands mete out violence on the earth.e

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,f

like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,

5 that will not heedg the tune of the charmer,h

however skillful the enchanter may be.

6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;i

Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!j

7 Let them vanish like water that flows away;k

when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.l

8 May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,m

like a stillborn childn that never sees the sun.

9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thornso—

whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.c p

10 The righteous will be gladq when they are avenged,r

when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.s

11 Then people will say,

“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;t

surely there is a God who judges the earth.”u

Psalm 59a

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.b When Saul had sent men to watch David’s housev in order to kill him.

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;w

be my fortress against those who are attacking me.x

2 Deliver me from evildoersy

and save me from those who are after my blood.z

3 See how they lie in wait for me!

Fierce men conspirea against me

for no offense or sin of mine, Lord.

4 I have done no wrong,b yet they are ready to attack me.c

Arise to help me; look on my plight!d

5 You, Lord God Almighty,

you who are the God of Israel,e

rouse yourselff to punish all the nations;g

show no mercy to wicked traitors.c h

6 They return at evening,

snarling like dogs,i

and prowl about the city.

7 See what they spew from their mouthsj—

the words from their lips are sharp as swords,k

and they think, “Who can hear us?”l

8 But you laugh at them, Lord;m

you scoff at all those nations.n

9 You are my strength,o I watch for you;

you, God, are my fortress,p

10 my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before me

and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,d q

or my people will forget.r

In your might uproot them

and bring them down.s

12 For the sins of their mouths,t

for the words of their lips,u

let them be caught in their pride.v

For the curses and lies they utter,

13 consume them in your wrath,

consume them till they are no more.w

Then it will be known to the ends of the earth

that God rules over Jacob.x

14 They return at evening,

snarling like dogs,

and prowl about the city.

15 They wander about for foody

and howl if not satisfied.

16 But I will singz of your strength,a

in the morningb I will sing of your love;c

for you are my fortress,d

my refuge in times of trouble.e

17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

you, God, are my fortress,

my God on whom I can rely.f