Psalms 58–11
Psalm 58:1-11
Psa.58.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- למנצח: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- תשחת: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- לדוד: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מכתם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 56:1 (verbal): Shares the same superscription formula (למנצח ... לדוד מכתם) — a 'Miktam' of David headed 'To the choirmaster,' matching the title-language of Ps.58:1.
- Psalm 57:1 (verbal): Another Davidic 'Miktam' with the לַמִּנְצָח / מכתם superscription; parallels Ps.58:1 in its identical title-form and placement as an editorial heading.
- Psalm 59:1 (verbal): Belongs to the same cluster of Psalms labeled מכתם and addressed 'למנצח,' reflecting the same superscription tradition found in Ps.58:1.
- Psalm 16:1 (structural): Although earlier in the Psalter, Ps.16 also bears the designation מכתם (Miktam) 'of David,' showing the broader use of this technical superscription like that in Ps.58:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- To the choirmaster. Do not destroy. A Michtam of David.
- To the choirmaster. Do not destroy. A Michtam of David.
Psa.58.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- האמנם: PRT
- אלם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- צדק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תדברון: VERB,qal,impf,2,pl
- מישרים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- תשפטו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 82:2-4 (verbal): Both passages confront rulers/judges with a rhetorical challenge about judging rightly—an explicit rebuke of unjust judgment and failure to defend the weak.
- Micah 3:9-11 (thematic): Denounces leaders and judges who pervert justice, love bribes, and harm the poor—parallels the Psalm's accusation of unjust speech and judgment.
- Isaiah 1:23 (thematic): Accuses officials of corruption, taking bribes, and failing to uphold justice for the oppressed—echoes the Psalm's critique of those who do not judge uprightly.
- Proverbs 17:15 (thematic): Condemns perverting justice by acquitting the guilty or condemning the innocent—an ethical parallel to the Psalm's concern with true/false judgments.
Alternative generated candidates
- Are you indeed silent about justice, O judges? Will you speak what is right? Will you judge the children of men with uprightness?
- Are you truly to pronounce justice, O judges? Will you judge the sons of men with fairness?
Psa.58.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אף: ADV
- בלב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עולת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- תפעלון: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- חמס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ידיכם: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- תפלסון: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Psalm 51:5 (verbal): Both speak of sinfulness from the womb/birth — 'behold, I was brought forth in iniquity' echoes the idea of corruption from the earliest life stage.
- Job 15:14-16 (thematic): Eliphaz's challenge that a person born of woman is not pure resonates with Psalm's assertion of wickedness from birth.
- Genesis 8:21 (thematic): God's observation that 'the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth' parallels the Psalm's theme of innate or early-acting wickedness.
- Romans 3:10-18 (quotation): Paul's catalogue of universal depravity (quoting Psalms and other texts) parallels the Psalm's depiction of pervasive, deceitful wickedness and corrupt speech/acts.
Alternative generated candidates
- Yea, in your hearts you work wickedness; on the earth you weigh out the violence of your hands.
- No—in your hearts you work wickedness; upon the earth your hands mete out violence.
Psa.58.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- זרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- רשעים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מרחם: VERB,piel,ptc,3,m,sg
- תעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- מבטן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- כזב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 51:5 (verbal): Both verses portray human sinfulness as present from conception/birth — "in sin did my mother conceive me" parallels "from the womb they go astray."
- Genesis 8:21 (thematic): Speaks of the bent of mankind toward evil from youth — thematically parallels the idea that the wicked are perverse from birth.
- Proverbs 22:15 (thematic): Folly (and by implication sinful inclination) is innate in the child’s heart, echoing the theme of wrongdoing originating early in life.
- Jeremiah 17:9 (thematic): Describes the heart as deceitful and desperately wicked, resonating with Psalm 58:4’s charge that people are disposed to falsehood and corruption.
- Romans 3:10–12 (allusion): Paul’s citation of universal human unrighteousness and deceit ('none righteous... none that seek after God') echoes the OT theme that humans are sinful in their nature and words.
Alternative generated candidates
- The wicked go astray from the womb; from birth they err, speaking lies.
- The wicked are perverse from the womb; from birth they go astray, speaking lies.
Psa.58.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- חמת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- למו: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- כדמות: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- חמת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- נחש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כמו: PREP
- פתן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חרש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יאטם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אזנו: NOUN,f,sg,suff
Parallels
- Psalm 140:3 (verbal): Speaks of the serpent/adder and its poison under the lips — parallels the image of serpent-venom and malicious speech in Ps 58:5.
- Proverbs 23:32 (verbal): Uses the simile of being bitten like a serpent/adder to describe the deadly effect of something harmful — echoes the serpent/adder simile and venomous imagery.
- Deuteronomy 32:33 (verbal): Describes wine as the poison of dragons and the venom of asps; shares the motif of serpent/dragon venom as a metaphor for deadly evil.
- Numbers 21:6–9 (thematic): The narrative of fiery serpents sent as judgment and the lethal sting of serpents mirrors Ps 58's use of serpent-venom imagery to portray deadly wickedness and divine punishment.
- Isaiah 59:5–6 (thematic): Likens the works of the wicked to venomous/concealed poisonous creatures (eggs of the viper, adder) — thematically related in portraying evil as venomous and secretly deadly.
Alternative generated candidates
- Their poison is the poison of a serpent—like the venom of a deaf adder that stops its ear,
- They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf cobra that stops its ear.
Psa.58.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אשר: PRON,rel
- לא: PART_NEG
- ישמע: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לקול: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלחשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- חובר: VERB,qal,ptc,ms
- חברים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מחכם: PREP+ADJ,m,sg
Parallels
- Proverbs 16:28 (verbal): Uses the image of a 'whisperer' (one who whispers/sows discord); parallels Psalm 58:6's concern with secretive whispering that undermines relationships.
- Proverbs 26:20 (verbal): Speaks of the talebearer/whisperer whose absence ends strife—echoes Psalm 58:6's focus on the damaging effects of whisperers and secret counsel.
- Psalm 64:2-5 (thematic): Describes enemies who 'whisper' and plot secretly to harm the righteous; closely parallels the motif of conspiratorial whispering in Ps. 58:6.
- Deuteronomy 18:10-11 (allusion): Prohibits charmers, diviners, and those who practice secret arts—relates to Ps. 58:6's reference to not heeding the voice of 'charmers' or secret whisperers.
Alternative generated candidates
- which will not heed the voice of charmers, however skilled their enchanters.
- That will not hearken to the voice of charmers, however skillful the enchanters may be.
Psa.58.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- א: PRT
- להים: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- הרס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שנימו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- בפימו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלתעות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- כפירים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- נתץ: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Proverbs 30:14 (verbal): Uses the same tooth/fang imagery of the wicked ('their teeth are swords, their fangs are knives'), echoing Ps 58’s request that God break/remove the teeth/fangs of evildoers.
- Psalm 37:12-15 (verbal): Describes the wicked gnashing their teeth against the righteous and then being overturned—parallels Ps 58’s imagery of teeth/fangs and the theme of divine judgment against hostile foes.
- Psalm 35:16 (verbal): Speaks of enemies who 'gnash with their teeth' at the psalmist; connects verbal imagery of hostile teeth/biting with Ps 58’s imprecatory petition to silence such aggression.
- Psalm 91:13 (thematic): Promises that the faithful will trample lions and serpents—thematises God’s subduing of dangerous beasts (including 'young lions'), paralleling Ps 58’s plea that God tear out the fangs of lions as a way of defeating enemies.
Alternative generated candidates
- God, break their teeth in their mouths; shatter the fangs of the young lions, O LORD.
- God, break their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, shatter the fangs of the young lions.
Psa.58.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ימאסו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כמו: PREP
- מים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- יתהלכו: VERB,hitp,imprf,3,m,pl
- למו: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ידרך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- חציו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss:3ms
- כמו: PREP
- יתמללו: VERB,hithpael,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Psalm 68:2 (verbal): Uses the same ‘melt/vanish’ imagery (‘as wax melts before the fire’) for the destruction of the wicked, closely parallel to ‘melt like water’ in Ps 58:8.
- Psalm 64:7 (verbal): Speaks of God shooting at the wicked with an arrow and wounding them—language parallel to Ps 58:8’s image of arrows/blunted shafts.
- Psalm 7:12-13 (structural): Imprecatory context where God readies weapons (‘he bends his bow’) to judge the wicked, a structural parallel to Ps 58’s petition for God’s arrows against evildoers.
- Psalm 37:20 (thematic): Portrays the fate of the wicked as vanishing/consuming away (they ‘vanish’ like smoke), thematically similar to the plea that enemies ‘melt away like water’.
Alternative generated candidates
- Let them melt away like water that runs off; let their way be trodden down—let them vanish.
- Let them melt away like water that flows off; when he draws his bow, may their arrows be broken.
Psa.58.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- כמו: PREP
- שבלול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תמס: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהלך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- נפל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אשת: NOUN,f,sg,cns
- בל: PART
- חזו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שמש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 68:2 (verbal): Uses a melting simile ('as wax melteth before the fire') to describe the destruction of enemies, paralleling the 'melt' image in Ps 58:9.
- Psalm 37:20 (thematic): Speaks of the wicked vanishing and passing away like smoke—a similar theme of sudden, complete disappearance of the wicked.
- Job 3:11 (allusion): Job's wish that he had died in the womb ('Why did I not die when I came out of the womb?') echoes the motif of an aborted or untimely birth and not seeing the light of day.
- Isaiah 26:17-18 (thematic): Uses childbirth and miscarriage imagery for national failure ('we were with child, we brought forth wind'), paralleling Ps 58:9’s 'untimely birth' motif of not seeing the sun.
Alternative generated candidates
- Like a snail that melts away; like a stillborn child that never sees the sun, let them perish.
- Let them go like a snail that dissolves as it moves, like a stillbirth that never sees the sun.
Psa.58.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- בטרם: PREP
- יבינו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- סירתיכם: NOUN,f,sg,poss2mp
- אטד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- כמו: PREP
- חי: ADJ,m,sg
- כמו: PREP
- חרון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישערנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Deut 32:43 (verbal): Speaks of rejoicing over God’s vindication and God ‘avenging the blood of his servants,’ echoing the Psalm’s theme of rejoicing at retribution.
- Isaiah 63:3-6 (verbal): Uses winepress/treading and blood imagery of divine vengeance—’I trod them in my anger’/garments stained with blood—paralleling the Psalm’s violent imagery of vindication.
- Revelation 14:20 (allusion): Describes the winepress trodden and blood flowing to the bridles of horses, a New Testament echo of Old Testament imagery of trampling/treading as divine judgment.
- Psalm 137:9 (thematic): Another imprecatory verse that celebrates violent retribution on enemies; shares the Psalm’s theme of the righteous’ grim rejoicing at justice.
- Psalm 94:1-2 (thematic): A cry for God’s vengeance—’O LORD, God of vengeance… Lift up thyself’—sharing the broader motif of calling for and rejoicing in divine judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- Before your pots are hot with water they will be dashed to pieces; he will seize them as with a whirlwind—the blast of his anger will make them desolate.
- Before they understand, he will snatch them away; in his fury he will cut them off and sweep them away like a whirlwind.
Psa.58.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ישמח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- צדיק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- חזה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- נקם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פעמיו: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3ms
- ירחץ: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בדם: PREP
- הרשע: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Isaiah 63:3 (verbal): The prophet speaks of treading the winepress and blood staining garments—close verbal imagery to ‘washing one’s feet in the blood of the wicked,’ linking vengeance and blood as God’s retributive act.
- Revelation 19:15 (allusion): The imagery of treading the winepress and outpouring of blood echoes the psalm’s violent vengeance motif; Revelation applies the same blood‑wringing image to divine judgment.
- Psalm 149:6-9 (thematic): An imprecatory psalm that links praise with executing vengeance on the nations (sword, binding kings), paralleling the righteous’ rejoicing over the downfall of the wicked.
- Psalm 137:8-9 (thematic): Both verses express a grim rejoicing in retributive justice—‘happy shall he be’/’the righteous will rejoice’—showing a recurring imprecatory trope of vindictive blessing upon enemies.
Alternative generated candidates
- The righteous will rejoice when he sees vengeance; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
- The righteous will rejoice when he sees vengeance; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
To the choirmaster. Do not destroy. A Michtam of David.
Do you indeed pronounce what is right, O judges? Do you render a just verdict, O sons of men?
In your hearts you work injustice; on the earth you commit violence; the hands of your deeds weigh out crooked scales.
May the wicked be estranged from the womb; from birth let them go astray—let falsehood be in their words.
Let their poison be the poison of a serpent—like the venom of a deaf adder that stops its ear,
which does not heed the voice of charmers, however skillful the charmer may be.
God, break their teeth in their mouth; the LORD, shatter the fangs of the young lions.
Let them melt away like waters that run off; let them flow like a stream—may their track dissolve and be gone.
Let them be like a snail that dissolves, like a stillborn child that never sees the sun—so shall they perish and not prosper.
Before their time their strength shall be cut off; before men are aware, destruction will seize them—like a dream when one awakes.
The righteous will rejoice when he sees vengeance; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.