A psalm written by David for the choir director, to be sung using the tune ‘Do not destroy’

58 When you mighty men speak, you never say what is right;

you never decide things about people justly [RHQ]!

2 No, in your inner beings you think only about doing what is wrong,

and you commit violent crimes in this land of Israel.

3 Wicked people do wrong things and tell lies from the time that they are born [DOU].

4 God, show in the heavens how great you are!

And show your glory to people all over the earth!

What wicked people say injures people like the venom of a snake [MET];

They refuse to listen to good advice, as though they were cobras that were deaf [MET]!

5 As a result, like a snake that does not respond when a charmer plays a flute or when someone sings magic songs,

they do not pay attention when others rebuke them.

6 God, as for these enemies who want to attack me like young lions,

break their teeth!

7 Cause them to disappear like water disappears in dry ground!

Cause the arrows that they shoot to have no ◄heads/sharp points►!

8 Cause them to become like snails that disappear in the slime;

cause them to be like babies that are born dead!

9 Get rid of them

as fast as thornbushes are blown away after they are cut (OR, as fast as a fire heats a pot over burning thorns).

10 Righteous people will rejoice when they see wicked people being punished as they deserve;

they will wash their feet in the blood of wicked people.

11 Then people will say, “It is true that there is a reward for righteous people;

and there is indeed a God who judges people justly here on the earth!”