Psalms 58 - Meaning, Themes & Application

" [[To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David.]] Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? "

Psalms 58:1 means David is calling out leaders and people in power who pretend to be fair but actually judge unfairly. He’s asking, “Are you …

" Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth. "

Psalms 58:2 means that some people secretly plan evil in their hearts and carefully carry out wrong actions, as if “measuring” how to hurt others. …

" The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. "

Psalms 58:3 means some people choose evil and dishonesty very early in life, showing how deep sin can run in the human heart. It reminds …

" Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; "

Psalms 58:4 compares corrupt people to poisonous snakes that refuse to listen, showing how deeply hardened and dangerous their hearts have become. It means some …

" Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. "

Psalms 58:5 compares stubborn, evil people to a snake that refuses to listen to a skilled snake charmer. It means some hearts are so hard …

" Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD. "

Psalm 58:6 uses strong word pictures—breaking teeth and lion fangs—to ask God to stop cruel, powerful people from hurting others. It’s not about personal revenge, …

" Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces. "

Psalm 58:7 pictures evil people losing their power and plans, like water that dries up or arrows that break before hitting. It means their harm …

" As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun. "

Psalm 58:8 uses two painful images—a melting snail and a miscarriage—to show how completely God will remove stubborn evil. It means harmful people and their …

" Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath. "

Psalm 58:9 means God can suddenly stop evil before it fully develops, just like a fire is blown out before it heats a cooking pot. …

" The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. "

Psalm 58:10 means God will one day bring full justice against stubborn evil. The “rejoicing” isn’t about enjoying violence, but relief that wrongs are finally …

" So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. "

Psalms 58:11 means that living God’s way is never wasted, even when evil seems to win. God sees injustice and will set things right. For …