Mazmur 58:2-5

58:2 No! ¹  You plan how to do what is unjust; ² 

you deal out violence in the earth. ³ 

58:3 The wicked turn aside from birth; ⁴ 

liars go astray as soon as they are born. ⁵ 

58:4 Their venom is like that of a snake, ⁶ 

like a deaf serpent ⁷  that does not hear, ⁸ 

58:5 that does not respond to ⁹  the magicians,

or to a skilled snake-charmer.

[58:2]  ¹ tn The particle אַף (’af, “no”) is used here as a strong adversative emphasizing the following statement, which contrasts reality with the rulers’ claim alluded to in the rhetorical questions (see Ps 44:9).

[58:2]  ² tn Heb “in the heart unjust deeds you do.” The phrase “in the heart” (i.e., “mind”) seems to refer to their plans and motives. The Hebrew noun עַוְלָה (’avlah, “injustice”) is collocated with פָּעַל (pa’al, “do”) here and in Job 36:23 and Ps 119:3. Some emend the plural form עוֹלֹת (’olot, “unjust deeds”; see Ps 64:6) to the singular עָוֶל (’avel, “injustice”; see Job 34:32), taking the final tav (ת) as dittographic (note that the following verbal form begins with tav). Some then understand עָוֶל (’avel, “injustice”) as a genitive modifying “heart” and translate, “with a heart of injustice you act.”

[58:2]  ³ tn Heb “in the earth the violence of your hands you weigh out.” The imagery is from the economic realm. The addressees measure out violence, rather than justice, and distribute it like a commodity. This may be ironic, since justice was sometimes viewed as a measuring scale (see Job 31:6).

[58:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “from the womb.”

[58:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “speakers of a lie go astray from the womb.”

[58:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “[there is] venom to them according to the likeness of venom of a snake.”

[58:4]  ⁷ tn Or perhaps “cobra” (cf. NASB, NIV). Other suggested species of snakes are “asp” (NEB) and “adder” (NRSV).

[58:4]  ⁸ tn Heb “[that] stops up its ear.” The apparent Hiphil jussive verbal form should be understood as a Qal imperfect with “i” theme vowel (see GKC 168 §63.n).

[58:5]  ⁹ tn Heb “does not listen to the voice of.”