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Lutheran reading notes

In Psalms chapter 58, the wisdom literature continues to explore prayer, worship, lament, praise, and trust in God. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes humanity’s limitations and the need to rely on God's grace and promises. The chapter highlights the contrast between human striving and the faithfulness of God.

Theme: Wisdom, prayer, and faithful living Key people: Wise figures Key place: Israel Liturgical use: Wisdom lections
1 [To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David.] Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? {Altaschith...: or, Destroy not} {Michtam: or, A golden Psalm}
Psalms 58:1 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2 Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.
Psalms 58:2 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. {as soon...: Heb. from the belly}
Psalms 58:3 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4 Their poison {is} like the poison of a serpent: {they are} like the deaf adder {that} stoppeth her ear; {like the poison: Heb. according to the likeness, etc} {adder: or, asp}
Psalms 58:4 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5 Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. {charming...: or, be the charmer never so cunning}
Psalms 58:5 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
Psalms 58:6 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7 Let them melt away as waters {which} run continually: {when} he bendeth {his bow to shoot} his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.
Psalms 58:7 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8 As a snail {which} melteth, let {every one of them} pass away: {like} the untimely birth of a woman, {that} they may not see the sun.
Psalms 58:8 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9 Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in {his} wrath. {both...: Heb. as living as wrath}
Psalms 58:9 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
Psalms 58:10 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11 So that a man shall say, Verily {there is} a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. {a reward...: Heb. fruit of the, etc}