Psalm 58:8
◄  Psalm 58:8  ►
New International Version (©2011)
May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along, like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.

New Living Translation (©2007)
May they be like snails that dissolve into slime, like a stillborn child who will never see the sun.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime, like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Let them be as a snail which melts away as it goes along, Like the miscarriages of a woman which never see the sun.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Like a slug that moves along in slime, like a woman's miscarried child, they will not see the sun.

International Standard Version (©2012)
May they be like a snail that dries up as it crawls; like a woman's stillborn baby, who never saw the sun.

NET Bible (©2006)
Let them be like a snail that melts away as it moves along! Let them be like stillborn babies that never see the sun!

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
Like wax that is melted and falls before the fire, they will be destroyed; the fire has fallen and they have not seen neither have they perceived the sun.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Let them become like a snail that leaves behind a slimy trail or like a stillborn child who never sees the sun.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
As a snail who melts, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

American King James Version
As a snail which melts, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.

American Standard Version
Let them be as a snail which melteth and passeth away, Like the untimely birth of a woman, that hath not seen the sun.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Like wax that melteth they shall be taken away: fire hath fallen on them, and they shall not see the sun.

Darby Bible Translation
Let them be as a snail that melteth as it passeth away; like the untimely birth of a woman, let them not see the sun.

English Revised Version
Let them be as a snail which melteth and passeth away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that hath not seen the sun.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

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

Young's Literal Translation
As a snail that melteth he goeth on, As an untimely birth of a woman, They have not seen the sun.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

58:6-11 David prayed that the enemies of God's church and people might be disabled to do further mischief. We may, in faith, pray against the designs of the enemies of the church. He foretells their ruin. And who knows the power of God's anger? The victories of the Just One, in his own person and that of his servants, over the enemies of man's salvation, produce a joy which springs not from revenge, but from a view of the Divine mercy, justice, and truth, shown in the redemption of the elect, the punishment of the ungodly, and the fulfilment of the promises. Whoever duly considers these things, will diligently seek the reward of righteousness, and adore the Providence which orders all thing aright in heaven and in earth.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - As a snail which molteth, lot every one of them pass away; or, "let them be as a snail, which melteth and passeth away" (Revised Version). Snails in Palestine, during dry seasons, often shrink, shrivel up, and disappear from their shells (Tristram, 'Natural History of the Bible,' p. 296). Like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun; rather, that hath not seen the sun (Professor Cheyne, Revised Version); i.e. "let them be as an abortion" (comp. Job 3:16).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

As a snail which melteth, let everyone of them pass away,.... As a snail when it comes out of its shell liquefies, drops its moisture, and with it makes a "path", from whence it has its name in the Hebrew language; and so the Targum here,

"as the snail moistens its way;''

which moistness it gradually exhausts, and melts away, and dies: so the psalmist prays that everyone of his enemies might die in like manner. Some think reference is had to the snail's putting out its horns to no purpose when in danger, and apply it to the vain threatenings of the wicked; a strange difference this, between a roaring young lion, Psalm 58:6, and a melting snail. The Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, render it, "as wax which melteth": see Psalm 68:2;

like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun; see Job 3:16. The Targum is,

"as an abortive and a mole, which are blind and see not the sun.''

So Jarchi renders it a "mole", agreeably to the Talmud (g). Or, "let them not see the sun" (h); let them die, and never see the sun in the firmament any more; Christ, the sun of righteousness; nor enjoy the favour of God, and the light of his countenance; nor have the light of life, or eternal glory and happiness; see Psalm 49:19.

(g) T. Bab. Moed Katon, fol. 6. 2.((h) "ne videant solem", Pagninus, Montanus.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8, 9. Other figures of this utter ruin; the last denoting rapidity. In a shorter time than pots feel the heat of thorns on fire—

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God Judges the Earth
…7Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bends his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces. 8As a snail which melts, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun. 9Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath. …

Job 3:16 Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?
Ecclesiastes 6:3 A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.