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Wisdom & Poetry · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Psalm 58

Psalm 58 is read especially through the theme of wisdom, within Book II (Psalms 42–72). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application.

WisdomJusticeCreation
Old Testament

Psalm 58

1For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David. Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?

2No, in your heart you plot injustice. You measure out the violence of your hands on the earth.

3The wicked go astray from the womb. They are wayward as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

4Their poison is like the poison of a snake, like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,

5which doesn’t listen to the voice of charmers, no matter how skillful the charmer may be.

6Break their teeth, God, in their mouth. Break out the great teeth of the young lions, LORD.

7Let them vanish like water that flows away. When they draw the bow, let their arrows be made blunt.

8Let them be like a snail which melts and passes away, like the stillborn child, who has not seen the sun.

9Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns, he will sweep away the green and the burning alike.

10The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance. He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,

11so that men shall say, “Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”

READ IN CONTEXT

Understanding Psalm 58

Psalm 58 is read especially through the theme of wisdom, within Book II (Psalms 42–72). Its language invites attentive prayer before quick application. Read it within the complete five-book Psalms collection, then compare its prayer language with the types of prayer found across Scripture. Classification is a reading aid rather than a replacement for the Psalm's own movement and tension.

Collection

Book II (Psalms 42–72). The five-book shape of the Psalter helps readers hear individual prayers within a deliberately arranged collection.

Themes detected

Wisdom, Justice, Creation. Read for these themes while remaining open to tension and secondary movements.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Psalm 58

Psalm 58 contains 11 verses and about 214 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A poem by David. Do you indeed speak righteousness, silent ones? Do you judge blamelessly, you sons of men?” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 11 closes: “so that men shall say, “Most certainly there is a reward for the righteous. Most certainly there is a God who judges the earth.”” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include like, away, earth, wicked, poison, break. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Psalm 58

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Psalms 58:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

What kind of Psalm is this?+

Our reading profile emphasizes wisdom, with related themes of Wisdom, Justice, Creation. Many Psalms blend genres or move between moods, so this label is a guide rather than a rigid classification.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer