Psalm 58:1 kjv
Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
Psalm 58:1 nkjv
To the Chief Musician. Set to "Do Not Destroy." A Michtam of David. Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones? Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?
Psalm 58:1 niv
For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam. Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity?
Psalm 58:1 esv
Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
Psalm 58:1 nlt
Justice ? do you rulers know the meaning of the word?
Do you judge the people fairly?
Psalm 58 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 82:1 | God stands in the divine assembly; he judges among the gods. | God judging rulers (eloihm) |
| Ps 82:6-7 | "I said, 'You are gods... nevertheless, like men you shall die...' " | Human rulers as 'gods' due to office |
| Exod 21:6 | "Then his master shall bring him to God..." | 'God' (elohim) referring to judges |
| Deut 1:16-17 | "And I charged your judges at that time... you shall not show partiality..." | God's command for righteous judgment |
| 2 Sam 23:3 | "The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: 'When one rules righteously over men...'" | Righteous rule comes from God |
| Isa 1:21 | How the faithful city has become a harlot... Righteousness lodged in her... | Call for justice and against corruption |
| Isa 59:4 | No one enters suit justly; no one goes to trial honestly... | Lack of justice among people |
| Jer 22:3 | "Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness... rescue the oppressed..." | Divine command for rulers to enact justice |
| Zech 7:9 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments..." | Prophetic call for just judgment |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. | Authority established by God |
| John 10:34-36 | Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?" | Jesus quoting Ps 82:6 for 'gods' |
| Prov 28:15 | Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. | Warning against oppressive rulers |
| Prov 16:12 | It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. | Righteousness upholds a throne |
| Lev 19:15 | "You shall do no injustice in court... Judge your neighbor righteously." | Law commands fair judgment |
| Eccl 5:8 | If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice... | Observation of widespread injustice |
| Micah 3:1 | And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob... Is it not for you to know justice? | Prophetic condemnation of unjust leaders |
| Micah 3:11 | Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price... | Specific corruption of leaders exposed |
| Ps 94:20 | Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who frame injustice by statute? | God opposes rulers who legislate injustice |
| Amos 5:7 | O you who turn justice to wormwood and cast righteousness to the earth! | Condemnation of perverted justice |
| Amos 5:24 | But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. | Divine demand for overflowing justice |
| Luke 18:2-5 | The parable of the unrighteous judge who did not fear God nor respect man. | Depiction of an unjust judge |
| 1 Pet 2:14 | ...or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. | God's purpose for civil authorities |
Psalm 58 verses
Psalm 58 1 Meaning
Psalm 58:1 begins with a pointed and challenging rhetorical question addressed to those in positions of authority or judgment, often interpreted as human rulers, judges, or powerful individuals who claim a righteous standing. The psalmist asks if they truly speak what is right and just, and if their judgments are indeed fair and equitable, implying a deep skepticism or outright condemnation of their actions. It sets the stage for a strong rebuke of unjust governance and a call for divine justice.
Psalm 58 1 Context
Psalm 58 is a imprecatory psalm, part of a collection of psalms attributed to David. It opens by directly addressing powerful figures, challenging their integrity and just administration. The psalm then transitions into a strong plea for God to act against these wicked individuals, graphically describing their inherent malice and demanding their destruction. Historically, the psalm speaks into a context where judicial and governmental corruption was a grave threat to societal well-being and a direct affront to God's order. The reference to "gods" (elim or elohim) likely pertains to earthly rulers or judges, who in their official capacity were considered to represent divine authority or even "divine beings" in the ancient Near East due to the reverence associated with their office, especially within the divine council framework (as seen in Ps 82). This address is a polemic against the notion that these human authorities are truly divine or inherently just in their own right, underscoring their fallibility and accountability.
Psalm 58 1 Word analysis
Do you indeed speak righteousness, you gods? (הַאֻמְנָם אֵלֶם צֶדֶק תְּדַבֵּרוּן אֵלֶם)
- הַאֻמְנָם (ha'umnam): A strong interrogative, akin to "Indeed?" or "Truly?". It carries an accusatory or highly skeptical tone, expressing doubt rather than merely asking for information. It points to an underlying belief that the answer is "no."
- אֵלֶם (ʾelem): This word is the subject, translated here as "gods" or "silent ones/mute." The meaning is disputed.
- 'gods' / 'divine beings': This interpretation derives ʾelem from ʾel (God/god) and implies addressing human rulers/judges who wield power that was seen as divine prerogative, or even members of a "divine council" if interpreted strictly in line with Psalm 82. This view challenges their divine pretensions when their actions are unrighteous.
- 'silent ones' / 'mute': This interpretation comes from ʾillem (mute/silent). This would suggest the psalmist is asking, "Do you indeed speak righteousness, O you silent ones?" It would be a highly ironic and contemptuous address to those who, despite holding positions requiring speech (pronouncing judgment), remain silent in the face of injustice or are corruptly silent. Many scholars favor the "divine beings" interpretation given its parallel with Psalm 82 and other ANE contexts of kings/judges as agents of divinity.
- צֶדֶק (tsedeq): Righteousness, justice, what is right or fair. This term refers to both moral rectitude and conformity to legal and ethical standards, especially in the context of judgment and governance. It's not just a quality but a demonstrated action.
- תְּדַבֵּרוּן (tədabberun): "Do you speak?" or "You speak." This verb indicates the active articulation of judgments and pronouncements, emphasizing that the psalmist is questioning the very words they utter in their official capacity. The question implies their words are anything but tsedeq.
Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men? (הַאֱמֶת תִּשְׁפְּטוּ בְנֵי אָדָם)
- הַאֱמֶת (ha'emet): "Truly?" or "In truth/uprightly?" This intensifier functions similarly to ha'umnam, adding to the skepticism about their sincerity and fairness in judgment.
- תִּשְׁפְּטוּ (tishpəṭu): "Do you judge?" or "You judge." This verb refers directly to the act of rendering legal decisions, executing justice, or exercising governance. It's the core function of those addressed.
- בְנֵי אָדָם (bənei adam): "Sons of men" or "mankind." This phrase clearly refers to human beings. If ʾelem refers to "gods," then bənei adam provides a parallelism that reinforces the human nature of the rulers, contrasting their "divine" office with their all-too-human failings. This pairing highlights the earthly nature of their corrupt rule despite any high office they may hold. The rhetorical effect is powerful: though they may claim divine authority ("gods"), they are ultimately just men who fail to act uprightly.
Psalm 58 1 Bonus section
The "ʾelem" word choice in this Psalm has been a subject of extensive scholarly debate, offering deeper insights into ancient Near Eastern kingship and judicial roles. While "gods" is a strong interpretation, the alternative "silent ones" (from ʾillem, mute) can suggest a profound criticism: these judges are "mute" not in speech but in their failure to speak or uphold true justice. Their silence against injustice, or their silent collusion in corruption, renders them ethically "mute" even if they outwardly pronounce judgments. This perspective underscores a double failure: they do not speak righteousness, nor do they pronounce judgment uprightly, because they are effectively deaf and mute to the cries for justice.
Psalm 58 1 Commentary
Psalm 58:1 cuts immediately to the heart of the psalm's theme: a direct challenge to corrupt authority. The opening rhetorical questions are not genuine inquiries but accusations, demonstrating the psalmist's outrage at the perversion of justice by those entrusted to uphold it. The ambiguity of "gods" (ʾelem) serves to elevate the status of the accused (perhaps divine representatives or powerful rulers) while simultaneously stripping away their legitimacy through the pointed questioning of their actions. The parallelism with "sons of men" reinforces their humanity and accountability, contrasting their grand claims or powerful positions with their base failures in administering tsedeq (righteousness) and emet (truth/uprightness). This verse lays the groundwork for the psalm's subsequent fervent petition for divine intervention against those who have trampled upon justice. It serves as a stark reminder that true authority, even earthly, must align with divine standards of righteousness.