Psalms 58

1 Do you indeed [truly, in reality] speak justly [righteousness, what is right], O rulers [leaders, congregation]? Do you judge [decide, make verdicts] uprightly [blamelessly, fairly], O sons of men [mankind, people]? word study 2 No, in your hearts [inner beings, minds] you devise [plan, work] injustice [wickedness, unrighteousness]; with your hands [by your actions] you mete out [weigh, execute] violence [cruelty, violent crimes] on the earth [land, world]. word study 3 The wicked [sinners from birth, estranged] are estranged from the womb [from the very beginning, from their mother’s belly]; the liars [speaking lies, deceivers] go astray [wayward, erring] from birth [as soon as they are born, from their earliest days]. word study 4 Their venom [poison, destructive influence] is like the venom [poyson, harmful effect] of a snake [serpent, deceitful creature], like a cobra [deaf adder, unresponsive to truth] that shuts its ears [stopeth her ear, refuses to listen], word study 5 refusing to hear [not listening to, ignoring] the tune [voice, sound] of the charmer [enchanter, snake charmer] who skillfully [with great wisdom, cleverly] weaves [casts, performs] his spell [magic, enchantment]. word study 6 O God [the Almighty, All-Powerful], shatter [break, smash] their teeth [fangs, sharp points] in their mouths; O LORD [the Supreme Ruler, Yehovah], tear out [break out, extract] the fangs [great teeth, sharp jaws] of the lions [young lions, fierce predators]. word study 7 May they vanish [melt away, disappear] like water [as the ever-flowing waters] that runs off [flows away, passes away]; when they draw [bend, aim] the bow, may their arrows [be as cut in pieces, have no sharp points] be blunted [made blunt, cut off]. word study 8 Like a slug [snail, that melteth] that dissolves [melts, passes away] in its slime [like an after-birth which is turned to water], like a woman’s [untimely] stillborn child [that hath not seen the sun], may they never [that they may not] see the sun [the light of day]. word study 9 Before your pots [cooking vessels, utensils] can feel the burning [fiery, blazing] thorns— whether [including both] green [fresh, living] or dry [withered, dead]— He [the Lord, God] will sweep [remove, take away] them away [completely, utterly]. word study 10 The righteous [upright, just] will rejoice [be glad, happy] when they see [behold, perceive] they are avenged [see vengeance, punished as they deserve]; they will wash [bathe, cleanse] their feet [steps, paths] in the blood [life, vitality] of the wicked [evil-doers, unrighteous]. word study 11 Then men will say, “There is surely [verily, most certainly] a reward [fruite, benefit] for the righteous [just, having God’s nature] [doubtless, without question]! There is surely a God [Elohim, the supreme Judge] who judges [judgeth, executes justice] the earth [the land, all people]!” word study