Prayer for the Punishment of the Wicked.

For the music director; set to [a]Al-tashheth. A [b]Mikhtam of David.

58 Do you indeed [c]speak righteousness, you [d]gods?
Do you (A)judge [e]fairly, you sons of mankind?
No, in heart you (B)practice injustice;
On earth you (C)clear a way for the violence of your hands.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 58 Title Lit Do Not Destroy
  2. Psalm 58 Title Possibly Epigrammatic Poem or Atonement Psalm
  3. Psalm 58:1 Another reading is speak righteousness in silence
  4. Psalm 58:1 Or mighty ones; or judges
  5. Psalm 58:1 Or mankind fairly?

Psalm 58[a]

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

Do you rulers indeed speak justly?(A)
    Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,(B)
    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.(C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 58:1 In Hebrew texts 58:1-11 is numbered 58:2-12.
  2. Psalm 58:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

126 It is time for the Lord to (A)act,
For they have broken Your Law.

Read full chapter

126 It is time for you to act, Lord;
    your law is being broken.(A)

Read full chapter

12 For our (A)wrongful acts have multiplied before You,
And our (B)sins have testified against us;
For our wrongful acts are with us,
And [a]we know our wrongdoings:
13 [b]Offending and (C)denying the Lord,
And turning away from our God,
Speaking (D)oppression and revolt,
Conceiving and (E)uttering lying words from the heart.
14 (F)Justice is turned back,
And (G)righteousness stands far away;
For truth has stumbled in the street,
And uprightness cannot enter.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 59:12 Lit our wrongdoings we know them
  2. Isaiah 59:13 Or Revolting against and

12 For our offenses(A) are many in your sight,
    and our sins testify(B) against us.
Our offenses are ever with us,
    and we acknowledge our iniquities:(C)
13 rebellion(D) and treachery against the Lord,
    turning our backs(E) on our God,
inciting revolt and oppression,(F)
    uttering lies(G) our hearts have conceived.
14 So justice(H) is driven back,
    and righteousness(I) stands at a distance;
truth(J) has stumbled in the streets,
    honesty cannot enter.

Read full chapter