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Psalms 58:6-9

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

6. Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD. 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. 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. 9. Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in [his] wrath.

Psalms 58:6-9 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 58:6

Theological / Devotional

Break their teeth. The poet turns from the image of the snake and the snake charmer to a picture of young lions whose teeth must be broken lest they continue their depredations (see Ps. 3:7).

Verses 6–9 contain vigorous imprecation, piling metaphor upon metaphor (see p. 624). They show that God will make unjust judges powerless in their designs. Since the wicked cannot be reclaimed, the psalmist prays that they may be rendered powerless.

By SdaBc