Tehillim 58 - Chapter 58 - Psalm 58

Lamnatsêach al tash’chet ledavid michtam
Haumnam élem tsédec tedaberun, mesharim tishpetu benê adam
Af belev olot tif’alun, baárets chamas iedechem tefalessun
Zôru reshaim meráchem, taú mibéten dovrê chazav
Chamat lamo kidmut chamat nachash, kemo féten chéresh iatem ozno
Asher lo yishmá lecol melachashim, chover chavarim mechucam
Elohim haras shinêmo befímo, malteót kefirim netots Adonai
Yimaassu chemo máyim yit’halechu lámo, yidroch chitsav kemo yitmolálu
Kemo shabelul témes iahaloch, néfel éshet bal chazu shámesh
Betérem iavínu sirotechem atad, kemo chai kemo charon yis’arênu
Yismach tsadic ki chaza nacam, peamav yirchats bedam harashá
Vaiomar adam ach peri latsadic, ach iesh Elohim shoftim baárets

1. To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Miktam of David.
2. Do you indeed decree what is right? Do you judge uprightly, O you sons of men?
3. But in your hearts you work wickedness; your hands deal out violence on the earth.
4. The wicked go astray from the womb; they err from birth speaking lies.
5. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; they are like the deaf adder that stops its ear;
6. Which will not listen to the voice of charmers, or of the cunning enchanter.
7. Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth; break out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord.
8. Let them melt away like waters which run continually; when he aims his arrows, let them be as if cut in pieces.
9. Like the slimy track of a snail which disappears; like the untimely births of a woman that do not see the sun.
10. Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall sweep them away as with a whirlwind, both the green and the burning.
11. The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
12. So that a man shall say, Truly there is a reward for the righteous; truly there is a God who judges on earth.

For protection from a ferocious dog

David expresses the anguish caused him by Avner and his other enemies, who justified Saul's pursuit of him.