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 rulers really pronounce just decisions? Do you judge people fairly? 2No! You plan how to do what is unjust; you deal out violence in the earth. 3The wicked turn aside from birth; liars go astray as soon as they are born.

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 57:1Have mercy on me, O God! Have mercy on me! For in you I have taken shelter. In the shadow of your wings I take shelter until trouble passes.
• Psalms 59:1Deliver me from my enemies, my God! Protect me from those who attack me!
• Psalms 72:1O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions! Grant the king’s son the ability to make fair decisions!
• Deuteronomy 16:18You must appoint judges and civil servants for each tribe in all your villages that the Lord your God is giving you, and they must judge the people fairly.
• 2 Samuel 23:3The God of Israel spoke, the protector of Israel spoke to me. The one who rules fairly among men, the one who rules in the fear of God,
• 2 Chronicles 19:6He told the judges, “Be careful what you do, for you are not judging for men, but for the Lord, who will be with you when you make judicial decisions.
• Isaiah 11:3He will take delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by mere appearances, or make decisions on the basis of hearsay.
• Isaiah 32:1Look, a king will promote fairness; officials will promote justice.
• Jeremiah 23:5“I, the Lord, promise that a new time will certainly come when I will raise up for them a righteous branch, a descendant of David. He will rule over them with wisdom and understanding and will do what is just and right in the land.
• Psalms 82:1God stands in the assembly of El; in the midst of the gods he renders judgment.
• Numbers 11:16The Lord said to Moses, “Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know are elders of the people and officials over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting; let them take their position there with you.
• Deuteronomy 1:15So I chose as your tribal leaders wise and well-known men, placing them over you as administrators of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and also as other tribal officials.
• 2 Samuel 5:3When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, King David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the Lord. They designated David as king over Israel.
• Matthew 26:3Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas.
• Matthew 27:1When it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him.
• Luke 23:50Now there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man.

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