Psalm 58
Geneva Study Bible
<> Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
<> Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O {a} congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?

(a) You counsellors of Saul, who under pretence of consulting for the common wealth, conspire my death being an innocent.

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

(b) You are not ashamed to execute that cruelty publicly, which you have imagined in your hearts.

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

(c) That is, enemies to the people of God even from their birth.

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

(d) They pass in malice and subtilty the crafty serpent who could preserve himself by stopping his ears from the enchanter.

Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.
Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.
Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
Break their {e} teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.

(e) Take away all opportunity and means by which they hurt.

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

(f) Considering God's divine power, he shows that God in a moment can destroy their force of which they brag.

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

(g) As flesh is taken raw out of the pot before the water boils: so he desires God to destroy their enterprises before they bring them to pass.

The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
The righteous shall {h} rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the {i} blood of the wicked.

(h) With a pure affection.

(i) Their punishment and slaughter will be so great.

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

(k) Seeing God governs all by his providence, he must put a difference between the godly and the wicked.

The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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