Psalm 58 is David’s fierce demand for divine justice against corrupt rulers who have perverted the courts of Israel - eleven verses of imprecatory prayer resolved in one of Scripture’s most striking confessions: “Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”

Full sung version coming soon.

Lyrics

Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men

No, in your heart you plot injustice You measure out the violence of your hands in the earth The wicked go astray from the womb They are wayward as soon as they are born Speaking lies

Their poison is like the poison of a snake Like a deaf cobra that stops its ear Which doesn’t listen to the voice of charmers No matter how skilful the charmer may be

Break their teeth, God, in their mouth Break out the great teeth of the young lions, LORD Let them vanish like water that flows away When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt

Let them be like a snail which melts and passes away Like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns He will sweep away the green and the burning alike

The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked So that men shall say Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous

Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth Break their teeth, God, in their mouth Break out the great teeth of the young lions Let them vanish, let them vanish

The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth

Listen

Psalms 58 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.

Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press