Psalms 58:1

Psalms 58:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
• New International Version (NIV)Do you rulers indeed speak justly? Do you judge people with equity?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do you indeed speak righteousness, you silent ones? Do you judge uprightly, you sons of men?

Context of Psalms 58:1

Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones? Do you judge people fairly? 2No, you practice injustice in your hearts; with your hands you weigh out violence in the land. 3The wicked go astray from the womb; liars wander about from birth.

Psalms 58:1 word by word

הַֽאֻמְנָ֗ם אֵ֣לֶם צֶ֭דֶק תְּדַבֵּר֑וּן מֵישָׁרִ֥ים תִּ֝שְׁפְּט֗וּ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Do ye indeedאֻמְנָם'ûmnâm · trulyH552
• speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: promiseH1696
• righteousnessצֶ֫דֶקtsedeq · righteousnessH6664
• O congregationאֵ֫לֶם'êlem · silenceH482
• do ye judgeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
• uprightlyמֵישָׁרmêyshâr · uprightnessH4339
• O ye sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120

Cross-references for Psalms 58:1

• Psalms 57:1Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me, for I take refuge in you. I will seek refuge in the shadow of your wings until danger passes.
• Psalms 59:1Rescue me from my enemies, my God; protect me from those who rise up against me.
• Psalms 72:1God, give your justice to the king and your righteousness to the king’s son.
• Deuteronomy 16:18“Appoint judges and officials for your tribes in all your towns the Lord your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.
• 2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, “The one who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
• 2 Chronicles 19:6Then he said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for a man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the matter of judgment.
• Isaiah 11:3His delight will be in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, he will not execute justice by what he hears with his ears,
• Isaiah 32:1Indeed, a king will reign righteously, and rulers will rule justly.
• Jeremiah 23:5“Look, the days are coming” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “when I will raise up a Righteous Branch for David. He will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land.
• Psalms 82:1God stands in the divine assembly; he pronounces judgment among the gods:
• Numbers 11:16The Lord answered Moses, “Bring me seventy men from Israel known to you as elders and officers of the people. Take them to the tent of meeting and have them stand there with you.
• Deuteronomy 1:15“So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and respected men, and set them over you as leaders: commanders for thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and officers for your tribes.
• 2 Samuel 5:3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron. King David made a covenant with them at Hebron in the Lord’s presence, and they anointed David king over Israel.
• Matthew 26:3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas,
• Matthew 27:1When daybreak came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put him to death.
• Luke 23:50There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin,

Commentaries on Psalms 58:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Do ye indeed speak righteousness - Or, O cabinet seeing ye profess to act according to the principles of justice, why do ye not give righteous counsels and just decisions, ye sons of men? Or, it may be an irony: What excellent judges you are! well do ye judge according to law and justice, when ye give decisions not founded on any law, nor supported by any principle of justice! To please your master, ye pervert judgment; and take part against the innocent…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? - Luther renders this, “Are you then dumb, that you will not speak what is right, and judge what is proper, ye children of men?” The meaning of the verse is exceedingly obscure; but probably the whole sense of the psalm turns on it. The word rendered “congregation,” אלם 'êlem - occurs only in this place and in the title to Psalm 56:1-13, “Jonath-elem-rechokim.” See the notes at that title. The word…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Wicked judges described and reproved. (1-5) A prayer that they may be disabled, and their ruin predicted. (6-11) Verses 1-5 When wrong is done under the form of law, it is worse than any other; especially it is grievous to behold those who profess to be children of God, joining together against any of his people. We should thank the Lord for merciful restraints; we should be more earnest in seeking renewing grace, more watchful over ourselves, and more…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1rulers (or gods): People used this term for high officials and administrators of justice (Psalm 82:1, 6). In other contexts, it might refer to angelic creatures (Psalm 89:7) or the gods of other nations (82:1; Daniel 11:36).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-111. O congregation--literally, "Oh, dumb"; the word used is never translated "congregation." "Are ye dumb? ye should speak righteousness," may be the translation. In any case, the writer remonstrates with them, perhaps a council, who were assembled to try his cause, and bound to give a right decision.Read the comment

Topics related to Psalms 58:1

• Depravity of Man
• Judge
• Music
• Rulers

In the dictionaries

• Altaschith
• Michtam
• Psalms
• Wickedness
• Angel
• Psalms, Book of
• Song

Commentaries on Psalms 58

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• The Treasury of David
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary