Psalm 58

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

¹ Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
Do you judge uprightly among men?

² No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.

³ Even from birth the wicked go astray;
from the womb they are wayward and speak lies.

⁴ Their venom is like the venom of a snake,
like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,

⁵ that will not heed the tune of the charmer,
however skillful the enchanter may be.

⁶ Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;
tear out, O LORD, the fangs of the lions!

⁷ Let them vanish like water that flows away;
when they draw the bow, let their arrows be blunted.

⁸ Like a slug melting away as it moves along,
like a stillborn child, may they not see the sun.

⁹ Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—
whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away. ^[b]

¹⁰ The righteous will be glad when they are avenged,
when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.

¹¹ Then men will say,
“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;
surely there is a God who judges the earth.”

Psalm 59

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

¹ Deliver me from my enemies, O God;
protect me from those who rise up against me.

² Deliver me from evildoers
and save me from bloodthirsty men.

³ See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire against me
for no offense or sin of mine, O LORD.

⁴ I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
Arise to help me; look on my plight!

⁵ O LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel,
rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
show no mercy to wicked traitors.
Selah

⁶ They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.

⁷ See what they spew from their mouths—
they spew out swords from their lips,
and they say, “Who can hear us?”

⁸ But you, O LORD, laugh at them;
you scoff at all those nations.

⁹ O my Strength, I watch for you;
you, O God, are my fortress, ¹⁰ my loving God.
God will go before me
and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

¹¹ But do not kill them, O Lord our shield, ^[d]
or my people will forget.
In your might make them wander about,
and bring them down.

¹² For the sins of their mouths,
for the words of their lips,
let them be caught in their pride.
For the curses and lies they utter,

¹³ consume them in wrath,
consume them till they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.
Selah

¹⁴ They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.

¹⁵ They wander about for food
and howl if not satisfied.

¹⁶ But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.

¹⁷ O my Strength, I sing praise to you;
you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.